BACOLOD CITY — The MassKara Festival-inspired design for the Bacolod Welcome Park that will rise on the boundary of the cities of Bacolod and Talisay in Negros Occidental was unveiled Monday afternoon.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Megaworld senior vice president Jericho Go led the unveiling, which was followed by the groundbreaking rites at the site, which is located along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.
The occasion took place on the day Bacolod commemorated the 80th year of the signing of its Charter, by then President Manuel L. Quezon on June 18, 1938.
“For us, this is a symbolism that Bacolod on its 80th birthday is opening its doors and welcoming the world to its city,” the mayor said, adding that the welcome marker is expected to be completed within the year.
Leonardia, inspired by the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign in Nevada, United States, pitched the idea of the welcome park to property giant Megaworld, which has 53-hectare township development in the area.
The welcome park, which will greet both incoming and outgoing visitors, will be highlighted by a 7.2-meter marker, featuring colorful masks that will light up at night.
Go said the project is a milestone for Megaworld, which will construct the marker at no cost to the city government since it will be the first time the company will build a city’s official welcome marker similar to the one in Las Vegas.
Harold Brian Geronimo, senior assistant vice president for public relations and media affairs of Megaworld, said the welcome park will be “seamlessly integrated” into the Northill Town Center, allowing visitors access to souvenir shops, retail stores, and restaurants within the commercial complex.
He added that a memorandum of understanding between the City of Bacolod and Megaworld will be signed to formalize the partnership for the project.
Geronimo said the company will construct and maintain the welcome park while the city government will take charge of the electricity for the welcome marker. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
