• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The half road closure requested by the Circulo de Bacolod (CDB) was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod for the staging of the Santa Cruz de Mayo (or Holy Month of May) procession in Bacolod City tomorrow, May 16.
The road closure will start at 3 p.m. from the San Sebastian Cathedral along Rizal Street, and will pass through Lacson Street to South Capitol Road, and Gatuslao Street where a culminating activity will be held at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Guided by the theme “A Tradition of Faith, A Celebration of Heritage, A Community United,” the Santa Cruz de Mayo 2026 is a project of CDB in partnership with the Diocese of Bacolod, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Jamero Family, and John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation.
The event is a Marian devotional and cultural celebration that unites faith, heritage, artistry and community participation in Bacolod City.
The celebration will begin with a Holy Mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral followed by a solemn procession passing through Lacson Street and South Capitol Road, culminating at Ayala Malls Capitol Central where the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Fatima will take place.
Through the leadership of project committee head John-John Ditching, the event will involve 28 designers from Bacolod, Dumaguete, Bago, Escalante, Cadiz, and Ilog, who will be dressing the sagalas for the procession.
The project follows traditional church-based practices and research guidance provided by the Diocese through Msgr. Rolando Quijano, ensuring that the celebration remains rooted in authentic Catholic and Filipino heritage traditions.
Founded 1987 by Luisa Medel Howard, on the eve of her retirement after years as a Liaison Officer of the Philippine Center in New York, Circulo de Bacolod was created to augment the activities of the Philippine Centennial Celebration of 2000.*
