After two years of hiatus due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, the physical celebration of the Al Cinco de Noviembre in Bago City is back this year, with various activities to be highlighted tomorrow, Nov. 5.
Al Cinco de Noviembre, also known as Negros Day, is celebrated every Nov. 5 to commemorate Negrosanons’ revolt against the Spanish colonizers in 1898.
Negros Day was declared a non-working holiday in Negros Occidental by virtue of Republic Act 6709. This year marks the 124th year of the celebration.
Mae Ann Furtos, senior tourism operations officer of Bago City, said that for two years, they had been celebrating the Al Cinco de Noviembre virtually. This year, physical celebration is back, especially, the “Sigabong sang mga Kanyon”.
Furtos said that despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, the city government continues to preserve its heritage through the Al Cinco de Noviembre commemoration.
“Its (Al Cinco de Noviembre) very essence is the ingenuity and bravery of the valiant hero, General Juan Araneta, and his Bagonhon troops together with the forces from the north led by General Aniceto Lacson,” she said, adding that this is also called the historical bluff as Bagonhon troops used nipa (coconut fronds) as “rifles” and amakan (rolled bamboo mats) as “cannon” that seemed to be believable from afar and led to the surrender of the Spaniards.
The city will start tomorrow’s event with the Philippine Navy Reservists Unity Walk at 4 a.m., from Sum-ag and Crossing La Carlota, going to Bago City.
Furtos stressed in a press release that “it was a bloodless revolt, through which, Negrenses were freed from the 300-year Spanish tyranny.”
Local officials, headed by Mayor Nicholas Yulo, will lead the wreath-laying rites at the General Juan Araneta Monument at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Civic Military Parade at the city streets at 8 a.m., to be participated in by the 24 barangays clustered into eight groups.
The “Sigabong sang mga Kanyon” photo competition will open at 8 a.m. at the city streets and at Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center (MYTCCC).
The “Sigabong sang mga Kanyon” Arena Competition, dubbed “Amakan kag Nipa sa Kasaysayan sang Negros”, is slated at MYTCCC in the afternoon.
At 7 o’clock Saturday evening, there will be a free film screening of “The Buybust Queen” with its main actor, Jeric Raval, as celebrity guest, also at the MYTCCC.
From 7 p.m. to 12 midnight, Bagonhons and other revelers will be treated to a fun “Party at the Park” at the Bantayan Park, one of the city’s prime tourist destinations.
Other activities on that day include free massage, manicure, pedicure, haircut and snacks at the Sparadise, also in Bantayan Park, 9 a.m. onwards.
Today, Nov. 4, there will be a Clean and Green Awarding Ceremony at the Bantayan Park at 10 a.m.
Other activities include a Zumba Dance with Zumba Goers Group and special guest zin and “Party at the Park” at Bantayan Park, from 7 p.m. to 12 midnight.
A week-long “Sigabong sang mga Kanyon” Photo Exhibit will also be staged at SM City Bacolod from Nov. 9 to 16.
On Nov. 6, the 1st Kagawad Basketball League Tournament will open at the Marhil Covered Court at 2 p.m., while the Kustura Bagonhon: Local Fabric Fashion Show will be held at the MYTCCC at 7 p.m.
On Nov. 12, there will be a second day screening for the Diwata sang Bago 2023 at the Bago City Community Center at 2 p.m.
Earlier, the city government hosted various activities as part of the 124th Al Cinco de Noviembre celebration, the press release said.
A job fair was conducted at the MYTCCC Oct. 26, City Cooperative Day at MYTCCC Oct. 30, Inauguration of Learning Hub CDRRMO at the back of the Gender Sensitive Evacuation Center Nov. 2, and thanksgiving mass at the John the Baptist and Party at the Park at the Bantayan Park, also on Nov. 2.
Other activities include a Biodiversity Month Photo Exhibit at the Bantayan Park (Nov. 3-5), Balay Daku Javellana Ancestral Home Art and Food Exhibit, and Party at the Park at the Bantayan Park.
“Bagonhons can really expect a more meaningful comeback of Al Cinco de Noviembre this year,” Furtos said, adding that this year’s “Sigabong sang mga Kanyon” is also in preparation for its silver year in 2023. ||
