Victorias City, La Castellana Win Panaad 2025 Titles

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Victorias City and La Castellana town emerged as champions in their respective categories during the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2025 Festival Dance Competition on Monday, March 24, at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

The Festival Dance Competition officially kicked off the weeklong celebration of Panaad sa Negros 2025, dubbed the “mother of all festivals” in Negros Occidental.

Victorias City’s Sidlak Kadalag-an Festival achieved a grand slam after defending its championship title for the third consecutive year.

Since 2024, the competition has featured separate categories for cities and municipalities.

La Castellana’s Bailes de Luces was declared champion in the municipal category this year.

Other municipal winners were:

• 1st runner-up: Manang Pula of Manapla
• 2nd runner-up: Lilas Pandan of Calatrava
• 3rd runner-up: Tinabuay Festival of Murcia
• 4th runner-up: Kalikali Festival of Don Salvador Benedicto

In the city category, the winners were:

• 1st runner-up: Silay City’s Kansilay Festival
• 2nd runner-up: San Carlos City’s Pintaflores Festival
• 3rd runner-up: Bago City’s Babaylan Festival
• 4th runner-up: Cadiz City’s Dinagsa Festival

During the opening program Monday afternoon, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said it was “heartening to see how this festival continues to unite every Negrense in pride and joy.”

He added that the Panaad Festival “holds a very special place in the hearts of every Negrense.”

“We stand at the threshold of a new chapter in the legacy of Panaad sa Negros,” he said.

“As we gather here, amidst the colors and energy that define our beloved festival, we are not merely celebrating the present; we are unveiling the future.”

Lacson noted that last year, the province “lived the promise” of Panaad, strengthening bonds and honoring commitments.

Now, he said, “the future unfolds” as this year’s theme.

“This is not just a catchphrase,” he added.

“It is a declaration of our collective vision—a testament to our unwavering belief in the unbounded potential of Negros Occidental and its people.”

Lacson said Panaad sa Negros has always been more than a festival.

“It is a dynamic canvas of our heritage, our resilient spirit, and our shared aspirations,” he said.

“It is a stage where each of our 32 local government units proudly showcases the unique treasures of their towns and cities—their traditions, products, and stories that define the essence of being Negrense.”

He said this year promises “an inclusive celebration like no other.”

“As we open the gates to Panaad sa Negros 2025, we are opening the doors to a future filled with hope, innovation, progress, and faith—faith in ourselves and, most of all, faith in God,” Lacson said.

“We are unfolding a future where every Negrense can prosper, where our traditions are honored, and where our potential is limitless.”