By: Story and photos by Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City The city government of Bacolod is eyeing to make the Chicken Inasal Festival here much grander, and longer next year.
This was the statement of Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairperson of the inasal festival, quoting Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who was not present during the event due to the death of his sister.
Rojas said the mayor really wanted to join them in the celebration but he was not able to make it because of personal matters.
However, Rojas said the mayor told her that the festival will be more bigger next year, making it two days during the last weekend of May.
We are going to target more establishments, Rojas said, adding that 30 establishments participated in the festival this year. We are also targeting to increase the length of the grilling station and the number of chicken inasal in the coming years, Rojas said.
The second year celebration of the inasal festival last Saturday benefitted 3,000 senior citizens from all 61 barangays in the city. They were given free tickets to join the boodle fight with the city government officials and other guests.
About 300 meters of barbecue grills were placed along Araneta Street from the Diamond Jubilee Tower towards San Sebastian Street during the ceremony.
The city government has allocated more than a million budget for the said event.
Given the short period of time, we still pulled it off, she said, adding that the festival was successful, considering an increase on the number of chicken inasal grilled for the beneficiaries and the number of establishments which joined the event.
When you hear chicken inasal, it is synonymous to Bacolod City. This is our way to attract tourists, and other local tourists from neighboring cities and municipalities, she added.
Aside from the boodle fight, kiosks were also opened to the public wherein they can able to buy chicken inasal and have their dinner in the streets.
The festival also include the first chicken inasal fantasy costume, hiphop dance showdown, Zumbafest, the saw-sawan contest, and street party until 1 a.m., the following day.
Also present in the occasion were Councilors Em Ang and Bart Orola, and Councilor-elect Israel Salanga.
A total of 100 traffic enforcers and 200 security forces from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) were deployed at the festival site.
For his part, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya highlighted the significance of the event in promoting the tourism and economy of the city.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, meanwhile, said the event is also intended to attract investors for the good of the citys economy since chicken inasal industry in the city is growing.
In 2018, the City Council approved the amendment of some provisions in the City Ordinance No. 482, known as the Manokan Country Inasal Festival in the City of Bacolod.
The first celebration was officially opened by Ambassador of Russia to the Philippines Igor Khovaev last year. It benefitted street children.
