By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Local government units in Negros Occidental, particularly the cities of Bacolod and Bago, will hold community fireworks displays to welcome the New Year.
Bago, the city next to Bacolod to the south, announced on Wednesday the staging of the annual Lights of Bago at 7 p.m. on January 1 at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Sports Complex.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo invited Negrenses to witness the event that will have a musical theme of the 80’s new wave hits.
“Be mesmerized as the skies of Bago will sparkle again with multi-colored lights cascaded down in sparkling flames,” he said.
The fireworks display will feature a medley of eight of the best 80’s hits such as Jump by Van Halen, Every Breath You Take by The Police, and Karma Chameleon by Culture Club.
Yulo said the city’s annual communal fireworks display is being held in support of the “Oplan Iwas Paputok” campaign of the Department of Health.
In the past year, firecracker injuries in Bago have significantly decreased by 70 percent, according to figures from the City Health Office.
Councilor Andrew Martin Torres, chairman of the 11th Lights of Bago, said the city’s annual activity has become a must-see event in the province and continues to draw thousands of spectators every year.
In Bacolod, the city government will also hold a community fireworks’ display on the night of December 31 at the Government Center grounds.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he is inviting Bacolodnons to join the New Year’s countdown event.
“We promise our people a grand fireworks’ display like the one during the MassKara Festival,” the mayor said, adding that call center firm PanAsiatic Solutions has committed to sponsor the fireworks show.
He also said that witnessing a community fireworks display will be safer and will also mean lesser expenses for everyone.
“Bacolod is also our home, and as one big happy family, we can celebrate together to welcome the New Year,” the mayor said.
Leonardia added that since Bacolod is celebrating its 80th year this 2018, the New Year countdown will be a fitting way to cap the celebration.
