Thursday, April 12, 2007 The Festival of Festivals
DISCOVER Negros Occidental's bountiful land... charming people. Savor its legendary cuisine of delectable dishes and sugar-based delicacies... Experience its lifestyle that is a sweet blend of the cosmopolitan and the rustic: enjoy the amenities of a modern metropolis without its hassles.
Capture the essence of Negros Occidental in the annual celebration of Panaad sa Negros Festival in Bacolod City, scheduled every April.
Dubbed as the "Festival of Festivals", Panaad (Hiligaynon for a vow and its fulfillment) is a colorful and jubilant presentation of individual festivals of the 13 cities and 19 municipalities of Negros Occidental. It brings together the 32 local government units (LGUs) in an array of theme booths that showcase their history, arts and culture, tourism, commerce, trade and industry, in the 25-hectare eucalyptus trees-lined Panaad Park and Sports Complex.
Panaad is also a time for renewing bonds or initiating friendships. The festival attracts most of the 2.6 million-strong Negrenses, their balikbayan relatives and friends, who get a glimpse of the best offerings of the towns and cities in a tour of the uniquely designed booths, as well as in cultural presentations and friendly competitions for beauty, talent, skills and in sports.
Free shows or concerts by popular Manila-based artists add fun and excitement to the festivities. The fun continues in the food and drinks alley that offer the famous chicken inasal, grilled fish and seafood, including various shellfish, oysters, and scallops. Local bands perform nightly till way past midnight in the food and drinks alley.
Panaad also features the gains the province has achieved in its diversification efforts and its priority agenda, particularly in Food Sufficiency and Agricultural Productivity. It is seriously developing its rice and corn industries and positioning livestock as its second major industry, next to sugar.
With the Negrenses' pioneering spirit, Negros is no longer just sugar. It is also cut-flowers and ornamentals, high value fruits and organically-grown vegetables, prawns and seafood, champion fighting cocks, exquisite handcrafted gift items and house ware, world-class furniture and garments, and many more.
Panaad is a thanksgiving celebration and an exhibition of the best of Negros Occidental... now, "Sugar...and more!" History
Panaad sa Negros was conceptualized in 1993 by the Negros Occidental
Provincial Government and representatives of the private sector to showcase the festivals of each of the then six cities and 26 municipalities of Negros Occidental -- their history, cultural heritage, commerce and industry and tourism potential. This was to be a yearly summer event for Negrenses, both here and abroad, to look forward to and come home for.
The first Panaad sa Negros Festival was a three-day affair in 1993 that started April 30. April 30 is significant as it was on this day in 1901 when Negros Occidental became a separate and distinct province from Negros Oriental. The separation and incorporation of both Negros provinces was to take effect on May 1, 1901.
The festival was held at the Provincial Park and Lagoon fronting the Provincial Capitol for the first four years. As the festival grows each year, it became necessary to look for a bigger venue. In 1997, the festival was held at the reclaimed area near where the Bredco Port is located now.
The construction of the Panaad stadium and swimming complex in Mansilingan, Bacolod City for the Palarong Pambansa in 1998 paved the way for the establishment of the Panaad Park as the permanent home of the
festival. The park hosts the theme booths of the now 19 municipalities and 13
cities of Negros Occidental, including the highly urbanized provincial capital, Bacolod City.
The football field is the battleground for the determination of the "Best of the Festival Dances," and the Drum and Bugle competitions, among other events.
The stadium, which can accommodate around 25,000 spectators in its main
grandstand and open bleachers, is the main venue for the cultural presentations, LGU competitions, concerts, and the festival highlight, the
search for the "Lin-ay sang Negros", the lady who epitomizes the ideal
Negrense woman.
When it started, the Negros Occidental Cultural and Sports Foundation had helped finance the festival. Starting 2002 to date, it receives financial support from the Pag-ugyon Negros Foundation. Due to its magnitude and the large crowds it generates, the festival currently enjoys the support of corporate sponsors.
The Panaad Logo
The rainbow signifies firm, solid and absolute promise of God as the source of everything, as the rising sun symbolizes the brightness of hope for the people of Negros Occidental, represented by the boot-shaped cloud.
