BACOLOD City will attempt today, Saturday, to land in the Guinness Book of World Records by staging one of the highlights of the 8th Bacolaodiat Festival -- the longest human snake dance -- along Lacson Street.
The snake dance is estimated to measure about 850 meters long and will be performed by 1,000 students of the Domingo Lacson National High School around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
It will be held after the parade of mascots and lion and dragon dancers from the 22nd Street to the North Capitol Lagoon.
The BacoLaodiat Festival kicked off Thursday with the ceremonial lighting of lanterns, zodiac animals and snake lanterns and the opening of the Chopsticks Alley along the North Capitol Road.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia and festival chairman Dr. Leonito Lopue, together with Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilors Em Ang and Ceasar Distirto and other guests, led the opening of the festival with the theme "Binding Cultures and Opportunities."
rA cultural show of Chinese songs and dances was held Friday at the North Capitol Road, involving the Chinese schools in Bacolod City after a streetdance performed along Lacson Street by groups clad in colorful Chinese costumes.
An inter-school Chinese cuisine culinary contest will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, while a lantern parade will be staged at 3 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) at SM City Bacolod.
Meanwhile, 12 groups joined the 8th Bacolaodiat Lantern Dance competition held Friday at Lacson tourism strip.
The groups included contingents from Barangay 17, Double "J" Force, Granadians, Grupo Die Y Nueve, Rosalanon, Barangay 23, Inner Motion Dance, Danz World-Cabug, DPJ Group, Choi Force, WSWG and Next 2 Step.
Lopue said the Lantern Dance competition was participated in by 12 groups representing the 12 animals in Chinese astrology.
The competition and parade went uninterrupted with the participants and people's cooperation, he said.
A mass of people gathered at the festival site to enjoy the celebration with family, friends, guests and visitors.
Leonardia, Sayson, some councilors and Lopue jointly lighted the incense for the blessing of the celebration and of the Chinese and Filipino cultures.
Leonardia thanked the people for their presence and cooperation in celebrating the Chinese New Year.