• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will be deploying 495 personnel to secure the celebration of the 19th edition of the BacoLaodiat Festival from February 9 to 11.
Police Capt. Joel Portos, BCPO deputy for the city operations management unit, yesterday said they will also tap the assistance of force multipliers to help secure the different festival sites which includes Lacson Street, North Capitol Road, Megaworld’s The Upper East, and two other malls.
This year’s BacoLaodiat Festival which celebrates the Year of the Wood Dragon, will be launched on Sunday at the Main Atrium of SM City Bacolod at 4 p.m. This will be followed by the Bacolaodiat 2024 Table Tennis Tournament at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central from Feb. 6 to 7.
The opening and judging of the Dragon Lantern Making Contest will be held at The Upper East on Feb. 8 at 5 p.m.
One of the highlights of the celebration is the declaration as adopted son and conferment of business tycoon Lucio Co as honorary mayor of Bacolod City at the Bacolod City Government Center on February 10, after a Spring Festival Thanksgiving mass at the Queen of Peace Parish (Redemptorist).
Meanwhile, the events on Feb. 9 include the streetdance competition from 13th to 15th Lacson streets; opening of the Chopsticks Alley and Imperial Village; cultural show, lunar music fest, and fireworks all at the North Capito Road, and the hitting of the Bell at the Yuan Thong Temple in Burgos St.
Other events include a Dragon Fantasy Costume Contest at Ayala Malls, Lantern Dance Competition, GMA Kapuso Artist Night all at North Capitol Road on Feb. 10.
A Mascot Mania and Chinese Cosplay Invasion will be held at the North Capitol Road on Feb. 11, to be followed by a performance of the San Carlos City Chamber Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble.
Bacolod Councilor Jason Villarosa, chair of the SP Committee on Tourism together with the officers of the Bacolaodiat Festival is inviting the public to witness this year’s BacoLaodiat Festival celebration.
The festival started in 2006, during the administration of former mayor Evelio Leonardia, its name coming from the words “Baco” for Bacolod and “Lao Diat,” a Fookien word for celebration.*
