“IT WAS with mixed feelings when I issued the executive order (EO) suspending the public celebration of the Bacolaodiat Festival for 2021,” Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.
Leonardia said in a statement that when he founded the Bacolod version of the Chinese New Year in 2006, it was meant to honor and manifest the assimilation of the Chinese culture due to the enriching presence of the Filipino-Chinese community in Bacolod.
“It was also conceptualized to become a major tourist attraction and through the years we saw how our people embraced and supported this annual event, making it grow by leaps and bounds beyond our initial expectations," he said.
He added: “ I must confess there is, furthermore, a sentimental angle why I passionately pursued to nurture its development and evolution. It was in 2005 during the wake of my beloved mother, the late Ester Ramos Leonardia, when Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas visited our family that the idea to create a Chinese New Year festival for Bacolod was born. So, on a personal note, I dedicate my work for Bacolaodiat to honor the memory of my loving Nanay.”
On Wednesday, Leonardia issued EO No. 4, suspending the public celebration of the BacoLaodiat Festival and all revelries during the Chinese New Year in February 2021 to comply with health and safety protocols in stemming the local spread of the coronavirus.
Section 1 of the EO states that the celebration of the BacoLaodiat Festival on the date of the Chinese New Year, February 12, 2021, or any day of February 2021 (February 2021 BacoLaodiat Festival) and all its attendant revelries and activities are suspended.
Leonardia said the facts and scientific studies supported by empirical data have undoubtedly established that mass gatherings can be an effective channel for transmitting and spreading infections, like the Covid-19, among the population.
“As we commemorate Bacolaodiat this year, we salute our long-time festival chairman, the late Leonito "Diotay" Lopue, for his major contributions to make this tourism and cultural gem what it is today,” he said.
He added this should have been another big chance to celebrate and enjoy the gains and the rise of Bacolod.
“ But times are telling us, in the light of the pandemic, we must put the health and safety of our people above any other considerations. I beg the indulgence and cooperation of my beloved people of Bacolod, we must suspend celebrations as they may prejudice our health and safety,” the mayor said.