By Nanette Guadalquiver | PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Hundreds of government security forces have been deployed to secure the week-long 26th Panaad sa Negros Festival, which opened Monday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan here.
Personnel from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company, and augmentation from the Bacolod City Police Office and other units have been deployed in a send-off ceremony led by Col. Romeo Baleros, police provincial director, on Sunday afternoon.
Ma. Lina Sanogal, executive director and action officer of Panaad sa Negros Festival, said the 26th edition of the province’s “Festival of All Festivals” continues to showcase the “Best of Negros”.
“During the festival, we can see all what we can offer to the Negrenses and the visitors,” she added.
The Panaad Festival’s major feature is the showcase of 32 themed pavilions of each city and municipality of the province, including the capital Bacolod City, designed either as replicas of their own municipal or city hall, or the famous product they are known for.
For 2019, some local government units have made improvements in their pavilions to show the cultural and tourism activities and investment opportunities in their respective localities.
On Monday morning, Sanogal joined Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Fourth District Board Member Victor Javellana in the ringing of the bell, which signified the official opening of the 26th Panaad sa Negros Festival.
This year’s festivity, themed “Beyond a Promise…A Legacy”, is being held until April 14.
The Monday morning activities started with a thanksgiving mass followed by ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the Festival Costumes Exhibit, Trade Fair, Organic Village, Bamboo Village, Eco-Garden Show, Food Park, Livestock and Dairy Fair, and Solid Waste Management Advocacy.
The Lechonaad, a parade of lechon (roasted pigs), also drew crowd as one of the opening events.
In the afternoon, a motorcade starts at 2 p.m. from the Provincial Capitol grounds going to the Panaad Park.
At 4 p.m., Marañon and Lacson will be leading the opening ceremonies at the Panaad Stadium.
Senator Cynthia Villar is the keynote speaker while the province’s top two officials are also giving their respective speeches during the program.
The mayors and Panaad Festival coordinators are raising their towns’ and cities’ respective banners while Sanogal is hoisting the Panaad banner.
The Best of Festival Dances Competition will be held after the opening ceremonies. It will be followed by GMA Kapuso Fiesta showcasing Manila-based celebrities, RMN’s Panaad Hip Hop Challenge 2019, and the Panaad Fireworks Display.
The Panaad sa Negros Festival is a Hall of Fame awardee of the Pearl Awards after being named the national winner for three consecutive years — 2015, 2016 and 2017 — in the Best Tourism Event-Provincial Festival Category.
The recognition was given by the Department of Tourism and the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines.
