The city of Bacolod is gearing up for the Bacolaodiat Festival which is one of the country’s biggest Chinese New Year celebrations from February 9 to 11.
This year’s festival is poised to be the grandest so far, with the main festival site returning to the Lacson Tourism Strip, starting at 6th Street up to 14th St.
The staging of the festivity, which will usher in the Year of the Wood Dragon, has received financial assistance of PHP5 million from the city government led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.
Bacolaodiat Festival chairman John Stephen Sy said they look forward to staging the significant event as he acknowledged the strong partnership between the city government and the local Chinese-Filipino community over the years.
Now on its on its 19th year, the festival got its name from the words “Baco” for Bacolod and “Lao Diat,” a Fookien word for celebration.
On February 10, Bacolaodiat Inc., together with the Office of the City Mayor, will confer the title of honorary mayor on retail tycoon Lucio Co, who will also be named the adopted son of Bacolod upon the endorsement of the City Council and the request of Benitez.
Co, the owner and chairman of Puregold and S&R Membership Shopping, and the chairman and owner of Cosco Capital Inc., has been recognized as he “brought a significant contribution to the business and investment landscape of the City of Bacolod and has led an exemplary yet low-keyed lifestyle worthy of emulation of the future generation.”
Bacolaodiat Inc. board member Michelle Chua said the logo for this year, featuring the Chinese dragon, incorporates the Chinese coin, which means prosperity and good fortune.
“This is going to be bigger than last year. This time, it’s the Year of the Wood Dragon, an important character in the Chinese community. It’s the most famous, the most powerful among the 12 animals in the zodiac. It brings so much abundance,” she added.
The Bacolaodiat Festival is a cultural event that celebrates the Chinese New Year. The festival features a variety of events, including a street parade, a lion dance competition, and a food fair.
