P25M for Panaad sa Negros comeback

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the Capitol set aside P25 million for the comeback of the Panaad sa Negros on April 17-23, 2023 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Panaad sa Negros festival is dubbed as the mother of all festivals in the province where all local government units (LGUs) gather at the Panaad Park and Stadium to showcase their products in their respective pavilions.

The P25-million fund does not include the financial support to all participating LGUs, which will be taken from the Grants and Donations budget of the Office of the Governor.

Diaz said that instead of a foundation, the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) will serve as the partner of the provincial government in managing financial obligations and showcasing the “best of the best Negros products” during the week-long festivities.

The launching of the Panaad sa Negros festival is on Feb 13 at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod City.

The festival will feature three major concerts by popular Manila bands to be spread out over the week at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Local bands will be the front acts.

Diaz said that aside from showcasing the Lin-ay sa Negros beauty pageant, festival dances of various local government units, and many other activities, they will introduce a new event called the “Best of Negros Products” trade fair.

It will showcase the best national, regional and provincial level winners from food to non-food categories.

“Should it be successful, it will be an annual event,” Diaz further said.

Expected to be invited are national government officials, with the guest list up for approval by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.

Several LGU festivals have started to stage a comeback after the 2-year hiatus, drawing thousands of festival goers.

First to hold their festival was La Castellana town with its Bailes de Luces (Festival of Lights) during the first week of January, followed by the Sinulog Festival of Kabankalan City, Lubay-lubay Festival of Cauayan town, Dinagsa of Cadiz City, and Kali-kalihan Festival of Don Salvador Benedicto which culminated Thursday.

February will see the holding of the Babaylan Festival of Bago City, Bulang- bulang Festival of San Enrique town, Pasidungog Festival of Talisay City, and Pasundayag Festival of Valladolid town.

For the month of March, Victorias City will hold its Kadalag-an Festival followed by Kisi-Kisi Festival of Ilog town and the Magayon Festival of Moises Padilla town.