SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara lauded the unity among Negrenses in its cities and municipalities for coming together to stage the annual Panaad sa Negros Festival, which is now in its 24th year.
“The people of Negros Occidental gather together to celebrate a one of a kind festivity,” Angara said before an audience at the jampacked Panaad Stadium watched the 2017 Lin-ay Sang Negros pageant Friday night.
The senator later crowned 2017 winner Angelica Esther Portugaleza of Bago City, who succeeded Lin-ay sang Negros 2016 Alyssa Louise Erika Jimenea of Victorias City.
Angara, as author of Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act, said he is glad that the province was able to preserve its history, culture and traditions.
He also mentioned the province’s flourishing business process outsourcing industry, which has more than 30,000 employees in various call centers.
Angara assured Negros Occidental of his support as he hopes the province will further create an impact with its initiatives.
Panaad, dubbed as the “festivals of all festivals,” will run until Sunday, April 30 this year.
The annual festivity captures the essence of Negros Occidental as it brings together all the cities and municipalities in a week-long merry-making and trade fairs showcasing their heritage and tradition at the 25-hectare Panaad Park and Stadium in the province’s capital, Bacolod City.
For his part, Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said he hopes local and international tourists witnessing the festival this year will experience the brand of Negrense hospitality that would lure them to visit the province again.
Elated by the huge turnout of revelers at the opening of the festival a week ago, the governor said he is thankful to all Negrenses for the support they showed by patronizing Panaad sa Negros every year.
The governor said he didn’t expect that the annual festival will be successful 24 years after its conception at Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod.