‘Lights of Bago’ Returns to Mark New Year

By Dolly Yasa

BAGO CITY – The highly anticipated “Lights of Bago” musical fireworks display will return on January 1, 2025, after a four-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bago City Senior Tourism Operations Officer Mae Ann Furtos said the event aims to inspire resilience and unity as it illuminates the night sky above this southern Negros Occidental city.

“This dazzling event not only illuminates the sky but also the hearts of every spectator,” Furtos said, underscoring the significance of the celebration’s return.

The last physical staging of the “Lights of Bago” was in 2020 during its 12th year, attracting at least 35,000 spectators from Bago City and neighboring areas.

That year’s edition, themed “A Rhapsody of Colors and Diversity,” highlighted HIV/AIDS awareness and promoted gender equality.

The event shifted to a virtual celebration in 2022, featuring highlights from its inception in 2009.

The “Lights of Bago” began through European Raymond Stoffel, a retired international corporate lawyer from Luxembourg whose wife hails from Barangay Poblacion, Bago City.

When Stoffel returned to Europe, the city government assumed responsibility for hosting the annual spectacle.

For 2025, thousands of spectators are expected to gather at the Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Barangay Balingasag to witness a 20-minute synchronized fireworks display.

Themed “Lights of Bago: Rebirth of Light,” this year’s show features a carefully curated soundtrack blending hits from past festivals with contemporary music.

“Each note and explosion tells a story of nostalgia, hope, and the promise of brighter days ahead,” Furtos said.

She added that the theme symbolizes a “bridge between generations, honoring the legacy of the past while igniting the imaginations of the future.”

Mayor Nicholas Yulo, Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, and other city officials will lead the celebration, which begins at 6 p.m.

“Join us as we usher in 2025 with an unforgettable spectacle of light, music, and joy—a true rebirth of tradition, resilience, and celebration,” Furtos said.

The “Lights of Bago” promises to brighten the New Year with its return as a beloved local tradition.