By Nanette Guadalquiver/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — A total of 15 villages will participate in the 1st Halandumon Festival, a street dance competition featuring the festivals of this city’s barangays (villages).
The event is part of the nine-day “Mga Adlaw Sang Paghanduraw”, the city’s yearly commemoration of history, art and culture from June 12 to 20 as provided in City Ordinance No. 616.
Halandumon is a Hiligaynon word which means memorable or worthy to be remembered.
Councilor Em Ang, chair of the City Council committee on tourism, said on Tuesday the Halandumon event is patterned after the Panaad sa Negros Festival in bringing together what the city’s barangays can showcase.
Ang said a total of 30 barangay kiosks will be set up during the food and trade fair at the Government Center grounds for nine days.
The bigger barangays have been assigned to have their individual booths while the smaller villages have been clustered, she added.
The “Mga Adlaw Sang Paghanduraw” will start on June 12 with the celebration of the 121st Independence Day at the Bacolod public plaza in the morning. Secretary Eliseo Rio of the Department of Information and Communications Technology has been invited as the guest of honor.
The Independence Day events will be capped by a concert at the Government Center grounds.
Other events are: June 12 to 20, photo exhibit at Ayala Malls Capitol Central; June 13, Halandumon History Quiz and SK Night; June 14, Bacolod City Government Employees Union Day; June 15, Paghanduraw ni Lolo kag Lola, a senior citizens cultural program; and June 16, Barangay OPM Idol.
On June 18, the city government will commemorate its 81st Charter Day, the first celebration under Republic Act No. 11146 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in November last year. Bacolod previously marked its Charter Day every October 19.
The city government will also take part in the June 19 celebration of the 158th birth anniversary of national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, to be led by the Rizal Elementary School.
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