THE 23rd Panaad sa Negros Festival officially kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
Senator Franklin Drilon is the guest of honor of the festivities' opening rites. This year's theme is “Panaad sa Negros: Showcasing our Island’s Sweet Surprises.”
The “festival of all festivals” is being participated by all 19 municipalities and 13 cities of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod.
A motorcade is scheduled to start 3 p.m. at the Provincial Capitol, and is planned to pass through the main streets of Bacolod going to the Panaad Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan.
Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is slated to give a welcome message.
The message is to be followed by the raising of banners by the mayors and representatives of the 32 towns and cities of the province. Panaad Festival executive director Maria Lina Sanogal is scheduled to lead the raising of the Panaad Banner while Third District Board Member Patrick Lacson will raise the Provincial Banner.
Drilon will be introduced by Fifth District Board Member Alain Gatuslao.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is also set to give his message and declare the official opening of the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2016.
The latest Negros Occidental Tourism Brand will also be launched at the opening ceremonies. The 23 Lin-ay sang Negros candidates will also be presented.
The Best of Festival Dance Competition will follow right after the opening program.
In the morning, the first day will start with a thanksgiving mass.
It will be followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Tourism, Agri-Trade Fair and Exhibits, Organik na Negros Agri-fest, Livestock and Dairy Fair, Eco-Garden Show, Bamboo Advocacy, and Negros Island Photo Exhibit and Festival Costume Display, among others, in designated areas at the Panaad Park and Stadium. (TDE)