THE Filipino-Chinese community in Bacolod City invited President Rodrigo Duterte to join the 14th BacoLaodiat Festival on February 1 to 5.
“We are hoping that the President will visit here again to witness the BacoLaodiat Festival because he really loves Bacolod,” Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran said.
The Office of the President has yet to confirm his attendance.
Familiaran added they will wait for the final instruction.
The BacoLaodiat Festival will kick off on February 1 at the Bacolod Government Center grounds.
The organizers will not use Lacson Street, the city’s tourism strip, to avoid traffic congestion in the area.
In the previous years, the opening rites of BacoLaodiat Festival were held on Lacson Street, which led to the closure of some streets in the area.
BacoLaodiat was coined from the name of the City of Bacolod and the Fookien word “laodiat,” which means happy celebration.
The City Council earlier approved P5 million financial assistance for the BacoLaodiat Festival on February 1 to 5.
“What will make the BacoLaodiat unique among others is that this will be the first BacoLaodiat that will be opened by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO),” Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier said.
The PPO is the country’s leading symphony orchestra and a resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The PPO will hold a free two-night outreach concert on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1.
Among the highlights of the festival is the BacoLaodiat Lantern Dance Competition, which will be participated by Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Alijis, Balow Dance Group, Granadianz, Double J Full Force, Choi Force, and Rustylian, as well as last year’s champion, BMD, and first runner-up, Jojaju.
They will also hold a Lighted Giant Pig Lantern Contest for students.
The contest is open to groups of high school students, college students, and those taking vocational courses in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. (MAP)