“The BacoLaodiat has united all of us”, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella yesterday said at the opening of the 9th Bacolaodiat Festival in Bacolod City as he enjoined everyone to cooperate and unite to make Bacolod City a top tourist destination in the country and in the world.
Red Chinese lanterns illuminated the festival site as these were switched on before the start of the cultural program at the North Capitol Road that was transformed by the Filipino Chinese community in Bacolod City into a China town. Puentevella and Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, with members of the Sanggunian, and leaders of the Filipino-Chinese community in the city, led the parade along Lacson Street to open the festival. Today is a national special non-working holiday in celebration of the Chinese New year based on Proclamation No. 655 series of 2013 signed by President Benigno Simeon Aquino lll. Puentevella said, "Bacolaodiat is growing bigger every year and is a very laudable addition to our tourism events in the city. We cannot depend on MassKara Festival alone so we have to produce many tourism events in order to attract people to come to Bacolod.” The Bacolaodiat was originated by former mayor and now Congressman Evelio Leonardia, and is now in its 9 th year. Puentevella said SM-Bacolod is building a convention center and with this development, many people will be interested to come to Bacolod and this will trigger an economic upsurge in the city. He thanked the Filipino Chinese community not only for their voluntary support to fire fighting and rescue operations, but for their contribution to the tourism program of the city like the Bacolaodiat Festival as well. ”I hope that through the years, this will grow further," he said. Bacolod is also host of the 2013 Batang Pinoy national championship games where 2,500 young athletes all over the country have arrived to compete in various sports in the city, Puentevella said. The Ceres - FC friendship football festival 7A side will also be staged in Bacolod on Saturday where 204 football teams and club will complete for a friendly game in ten categories, he said, adding that these events will fill up all the restaurants and hotels in Bacolod. Also present at the opening rites were Councilors Em Ang, Sonya Verdeflor, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, El Cid Familiaran, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Archie Baribar and Carlos Jose Lopez. Meanwhile, road closures will be implemented at the festival site along the North Capitol Road and Lacson Street from noon to midnight starting today until tomorrow, and from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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