More Negros Occ LGUs hold in-person fiestas amid pandemic

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – More local government units in Negros Occidental are holding in-person festival celebrations after a 3-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today, March 25, 2023 Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo said Magayon Hinuptanan Festival will kick off and will run until March 28, 2023.

Yulo said everyone in the town is excited as this will be the first face-to-face staging of the festival after three years.

The festival is named Hinuptanan which means domesticated animals because the town is the livestock capital of the province.

The highlight will be the street dancing competition participated by all the barangays divided into two categories – Category A for the seven barangays in the población and Category B for the eight barangays outside the poblacion.

The participants will be dressed in costumes representing various domesticated animals.

Another attraction in the festivities is the Lechon festival which will be part of the kick-off activities right after the Parade and Opening program on March 25 to be followed by the opening of the Agro-Industrial fair and the Magayon Hinuptanan Queen 2023 in the evening.

Yulo said the town has taken all necessary precautions, in cooperation with the provincial government, in preventing the African Swine Fever from infecting swine and other products.

On the other hand, the Kisi-Kisi Festival of Ilog town is set to culminate this weekend.

Himamaylan City’s Himayaan Festival also kicks off today and will run until March 31, 2023.

Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson said one of the highlights of this festival, aside from the street dancing competition, is a fashion show for a cause that will feature popular ramp models of the country.

On April 1-4, 2023 La Castellana town will hold its Banana Festival which will feature different species of banana.

La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangalimutan said the festival highlight is the Search for Banana Festival Queen.

On the other hand, the Panaad sa Negros Festival of the provincial government will be held in person on April 17- 23, 2023 at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Dubbed as the mother of all festivals in the province, all local government units (LGUs) will showcase their products in their respective pavilions at the Panaad Park and compete for the best festival dance.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos were invited to grace the weeklong festivities.