The 29th Panaad sa Negros Festival drew a crowd of 65,000 on closing night Sunday, March 30, and its sales hit P14,943, 266, an initial report showed.
“Each moment of this festival has been a testament to the strength, creativity, and unity of the Negrenses,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said in his speech at the closing program.
The Panaad was not only a festival but an economic and cultural showcase, he said.
“As we close this chapter of Panaad sa Negros 2025, let us carry forward the spirit of unity and progress that this festival embodies,” Lacson said.
The sales at the festival from Monday to 7 p.m. Sunday hit P14,943,266, Karen Dinsay of the festival secretariat said.
The amount is expected to increase when the sales from 7 p.m. to midnight of Sunday are included, she said.
The 32 Local Government Unit pavilions had the largest sales at P9,133,412.
The sales at the Technology and Livelihood Development Center Trade Fair was P39,018, Provincial Veterinary Office Village – P420,922, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Village – P961,087, San Miguel area – P2,735,950, food alley – P1,477, 252, and garden – P175,625.
The crowd at the Panaad Park and Stadium hit 65,000 with 60,000 packing the stadium for the concert of Bamboo, the rockstar, despite the rain Sunday night, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
A crowd estimated at close to 12,000 also gathered at the Panaad Stadium for the Kapamilya Karavan show with Zsa Zsa Padilla, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez, Angeline Quinto and other stars, and the concert of singers Rico Blanco and Janella Salvador on Saturday night, Diaz said.
The festival was capped with fireworks.
Present at the awarding program Sunday afternoon were newly crowned Lin-ay sang Negros – Jada Biaxyl Celeste (center) first runner up Maxine Louise Martin of Ilog (right) and second runner up Julianah Cassandra Makilan of Manapla.*Ronnie Baldonado photo
Awards were given at the closing program Sunday afternoon to the following champions:
*Festival Dance Competition (city category) – Victorias City
*Festival Dance Competition (municipal category) – La Castellana
*Folk Dance Competition (rural category) – Silay City
*Folk Dance Competition (western category) – Himamaylan City
*Festival Costume (indigenous category) – Calatrava
*Festival Costume (colorful category) – Bago
*Visual Arts Competition – La Castellana
*Pop Sance Competition – Cadiz City
*Latin Dance Sports Competition (juvenile division) – Talisay City,
*Latin Dance Sports Competition (third kind division) – Binalbagan
*Latin Dance Sports Competition (amateur division) – Bacolod City
*Battle of the Bands – Sagay City
*Pop songwriting competition – Victorias City
*Pop songwriting competition (best interpreter) – Escalante City
*LGU booth compliant with RA 9003 – Cadiz City
The following is the complete list of winners:
