City councilor promises more exciting New Year’s Eve bash

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Councilor Israel Salanga said a more spectacular New Year countdown is in store for residents and visitors of this city on Dec 31, 2019 at the Bacolod Government Center.

Salanga said the yearly activity was introduced by Mayor Evelio Leonardia to gather people and celebrate the New Year as one big happy family.

Salanga, chairman of the Sanggunian Committee on Tourism, said the countdown will start at 6 p.m. at the BCGC grounds.

Two live bands will be performing and there will be raffle prizes for those who will attend.

He said 2019 was a successful year for Bacolod because the city has garnered so many awards.

“Let us make it a habit to gather at the government center every year in welcoming the New Year as one big happy family,” Salanga said.

Salanga said the yearly activity is also in partnership with Panasiatic Solutions.

Panasiatic site director and general manager Siony Hijara-Ferraris said Panasiatic  solutions has increased its budget for the fireworks display during the New Year’s Countdown at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on December 31 to welcome 2020.

Hijara-Ferraris said that they started this tradition with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and have been the city’s partner for the countdown by sponsoring the fireworks display since 2011.

She further said that from then on yearly, they make it a point to allot a budget for the New Year’s Countdown.

This year, they increased the budget for the fireworks from P230,000 to P280,000 to make it more spectacular, Ferraris said

Salanga also thanked Panasiatic Solutions for partnering with the city in welcoming the New Year. As a major sponsor of the activity every year, it will again provide the fireworks display this year.

Ferraris said they hope to see more families attending the New Year Countdown this year.

“We have been blessed this year not just with financials and good jobs, but we have been spared from a lot of calamities, so that is a lot of things to be grateful for. Let us welcome the coming year with more energy to make lives better,” she said.