Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and Senator Francis Tolentino will be the guests at the opening of the Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City on April 17.
President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Liza, will not be able to attend the opening rites and it is not certain yet if they will come at a later date, since the festival will run until April 23, Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said Tuesday, April 11.
Ferrer said he has not received a confirmation yet from Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio, who was also invited to the festival.
Twenty-seven of the 31 Negros Occidental LGUs have contestants joining the Lin-ay sang Negros Pageant on April 21.
Only Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra and San Carlos have no contestants, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Assistance of P50,000 each is being released to the contestants, he said.
The beauty pageant will give wide local and national social media exposure to LGUs fielding candidates, Diaz said.
The provincial government has also released P300,000 each to local government units joining the festival.
All 31 Negros Occidental LGUs and Bacolod City will be opening their pavilions at the Panaad Park for the festival, Diaz said.*