THE City Government opens Saturday the 5th Bacolaodiat Festival at Lacson Street, the city’s tourism strip, for the Filipino-Chinese community to celebrate New Year dubbbed as “Leap of Courage with Renewed Vitality.”
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the festival has already been embraced by the people as one of the city’s attraction and activity in the calendar every year.
“There’s no stopping the festival. This was my personal idea, and I’m happy that it has already bears its fruits now. Bacolodiat is now an institution, and it is shared to the state,” he said.
Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, on the other hand said the festival “is a grand celebration.”
He said: “It’s nice to witness the festival to experience the Chinese culture, especially the Chinese in the city.”
Sayson encouraged the people to witness the festival celebration at the North Capitol Road near the PNB Building to experience the Chinese culture.
Leonito Lopue, chair of the Bacolaodiat Festival said the Bacoloadiat Committee has ordered 31 nationality costumes from China, being the newest culture to be presented to the Filipino people, especially in Bacolod.
Councilor Homer Bais, chair committee on tourism, said that he is overwhelmed of the opening of the festival, which it’s participated by different Filipino-Chinese organizations in the city.
“It only shows that the festival will not only be celebrated locally, but also nationally and I hope that the city could gather tourists more to join the celebration.”