• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolaodiat Inc., organizer of this year’s Bacolaodiat Festival to usher in the Year of the Wood Dragon, has sought permission from the city on several road closures at the North Capitol Road and Lacson Street, the main venues of the series of activities to celebrate the new Lunar Year.
John Stephen Sy, chairman of the Bacolaodiat Festival 2024, in his letter Jan. 16, requested approval to close the North Capitol Road and a portion of Aguinaldo Street on Feb. 5 to 11, for festival activities and to give way for ingress and egress; partial road closure from 5th to 15th Lacson Streets from Feb. 7 to 12, also for festival activities.
This 19th edition of the Bacolaodiat Festival, which traces its beginnings in 2006, will be held at the North Capitol Road and Lacson Tourism Strip on Feb. 9 to 11, Sy said, adding that they expect a brighter, more interactive activities, aside from institutionalized crowd-drawing events.
The street dance competition will be held on Feb. 9 at 4 p.m., and lantern dance competition, Feb. 10, starting at 6 p.m., both from 15th Street to North Capitol Road, the organizer said.
The six groups competing in the street dance and lantern dance competitions include the Jojaju, Ugyon Dance Troupe, Luminaries, The Next Power Generation, CHMSU Alijisanon, and Breaxers. The champion will take home P100,000, P80,000 for the first runner-up, P60,000 for the second runner-up, and three consolation prizes of P15,000 each.
There will also be fireworks display at the North Capitol Road, as well as nightly events at North Capitol Road, 6th Street stage, and 13th Street stage, from Feb. 9 to 11.
Other highlight events and attractions include the Chopsticks Alley and the Imperial Village at the North Capitol Road; and “A Night in the Middle Kingdom” cultural show, which will feature performances from various Chinese schools in Bacolod.
Sy’s request was referred by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to the City Mayor’s Office (CMO) for proper disposition.
The SP, during its regular session Jan. 17, also authorized Mayor Alfredo Benitez to sign the memorandum of agreement with the Bacolaodiat Inc. for the grant of P5 million in financial assistance, which will be taken from the CMO’s 2024 Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses account. | CGC
