The Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival (BCIF) officially opens today, May 29, with a city-wide celebration that puts the spotlight once again on Manokan Country, widely regarded as the enduring home of the city’s iconic chicken inasal.
Festival activities will kick off at 10 a.m. at Manokan Country at SM City Bacolod, gathering local officials, tourism stakeholders, culinary groups, grill masters, and food lovers for the start of a three-day celebration dedicated to one of Bacolod’s most recognized culinary symbols.
While various venues across the city are mounting their own festival activities, organizers emphasized that Manokan Country remains the heart of the Bacolod chicken inasal experience, tracing its roots to the original grillers along Cuadra Street, whose legacy continues through generations of vendors today.
Among the major highlights on opening day is “The Taste of Chicken Inasal” with the City of Bacolod at 11 a.m., featuring a special lunch of city officials, headed by Mayor Greg Gasataya, with the Manokan tenants, vendors, and special guests. The celebration centers on the evolution and craft of Bacolod’s signature dish.
Also set at 6 o’clock tonight is the BCIF Awards at the SM North Block, recognizing personalities, institutions, and culinary contributors, who have helped shape and promote the city’s inasal heritage and food culture.
Festivalgoers can also expect “Grill and Groove at Manokan Country”, a nightly entertainment series featuring live bands and performances throughout the weekend, transforming the area into a vibrant food and music destination.
On May 30, culinary enthusiasts will gather for more workshops and the much-anticipated Inasal Fest Negros Island Regional Culinary Battle, where aspiring chefs and culinary schools from across Negros Island Region will showcase innovative interpretations of chicken inasal while honoring traditional flavors and grilling techniques.
Entertainment activities continue on May 31, to be capped off by a 4 p.m. mall show featuring popular GMA Kapuso stars.
Adding to this year’s festivities is what organizers hope will become a legacy event of the festival: the “Unli Chicken Inasal” feast at Manokan Country, offering unlimited servings of grilled chicken for lunch and dinner throughout the celebration.
With food, music, culture, and community coming together, organizers expect thousands of visitors to flock to Manokan Country for what is to be the biggest and most authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival experience. ||
