It will begin to look a lot like Christmas right in the heart of the City of Smiles starting Monday night, Dec. 13.
Mayor Evelio Leonadia will lead local government executives during the 6 p.m. lights-on ceremony at the Bacolod Public Plaza, wherein the iconic bandstand will transform into a “Lights Castle” and the symbolic Diamond Jubilee Tower facing Araneta Street will become a “Tower of Lights”.
Dr. Andrew Tan, head of the Alliance Global Group Inc. that includes real property developer MegaWorld Corporation and Emperador Distillers Inc., gifted Bacolodnons with Christmas lights and decorations at the Bacolod City Government Center and the Bacolod Public Plaza.
Tan is an adopted son of the city and had been named as Bacolod’s honorary mayor.
About 95,000 Christmas lights will clothe the bandstand, the 75th Jubilee Tower and some trees around the plaza for the holidays, Executive Assistant Sandra Sycip said.
Leonardia thanked Tan and his corporate executives for their generosity and for their love for Bacolod.
The mayor also expressed confidence that with continued public-private partnership, Bacolod’s economic progress will soar to greater levels in the coming years.
“We were able to keep a dynamic local economy despite the many challenges during the last two years. With our resilience and strong resolve, things could only get better and the future a lot brighter under the new normal,” Leonardia said.
Visitors will also be greeted by the 40-foot (12.19-m) “Tunnel of Lights” from the Gatuslao Street side as they enter the plaza area to make for an exciting photo opportunity experience inside the passageway that will be accented with multi-colored neon and led string lights, Sycip said.
The mounting of the Christmas lights at the plaza, site of many historical events and also served as the venue for arena performances of the world-renowned annual MassKara Festival dance competitions, was mainly sponsored by Emperador Distillers, Inc.
Responsible for lighting the BCGC on November Nov. 29 to usher in the holiday season, was MegaWorld Corporation.
Bacolodnons witnessed the transformation of the BCGC that was illuminated with 18,360 Christmas lights by MegaWorld that developed the high-end Forbes Hill residences and the mixed-use, sprawling l estate called Upper East fronting the BCGC.
Emperador Distillers will also set up a corporate booth at the plaza for sampling of its latest flagship brand coffee brandy.
The Christmas lights and plaza decors, Sycip said, will remain until after the celebration of the Chinese New Year or the Bacolaudiat in early February 2022.
The lights at the Jubilee Tower will stay year-round, she added.*