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Bacolod City, Philippines Friday, January 20, 2012
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Bacolaodiat kicks off today

Bacolod City welcomes the majestic year of the dragon as the 7 th BacoLaodiat Festival kicks off today with a roster of programs and activities prepared by the Bacolaodiat Board Inc. from January 20 to 23.

The President has declared January 23 (Monday) a special non-working holiday, which is celebrated by Chinese nationals as the Chinese New Year.

The celebration of the Chinese New Year starts with a dazzling grand parade at 4 p.m. with illuminated floats, lanterns, lions and dragons parading from Rizal to Lacson streets, a press release from organizers said.

The parade will be joined by life-size zodiac animals that will be displayed at the Lacson Tourism Strip right later for picture-taking, it said.

A food walk and a night market with colorful booths of delicious Chinese food, arts and crafts will satisfy the food cravings of the people at Chopsticks Alley along North Capitol Road at 4:30 p.m., the release said.

A cultural show will entertain the Filipino-Chinese community through Chinese songs and dances performed by students of Trinity Christian School, Bacolod Tay Tung High School and St. John's Institute at 6 p.m.

Exploding spectacle of fireworks will be displayed at 9 p.m. with the Symphony of Lights and Sparks followed by a live band brought by Tanduay at 10:30 p.m.

The activities lined up for tomorrow will include a parade of mascots at the North Capitol Road, a photography contest by Canon, Kapuso Night, SJI Night and a number of live band performances all at the Lacson Tourism Strip, the release added.

The Bacolod City Government Center, being the center of celebrations in Bacolod City, will be the venue of the culminating rites of the BacoLaodiat Festival.

Various dragon lanterns now surround the fountain at the foreground of the government center, with the 30 feet by 60 feet inflatable dragon lording over them.

There were 12 entries that vied for the Best Dragon Lantern Design that was judged Wednesday, but the winners will be announced on Monday – the culmination of the Chinese New Year celebration.

The Bacolaodiat Festival started in 2006, when Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and then Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas decided to have a twin celebration of the Chinese New Year in January, at the same time, in their cities.

Bacolod and Iloilo have always been “sister cities” long before the actual signing of their “ Twinning “ sometime last year. Most of the families in Bacolod have roots in Iloilo and both cities owe most of their progress to the old Chinese immigrants who established businesses in both cities, a press release from City Hall said.

Meanwhile, the City Government of Bacolod is inviting everyone to view the dragons at the fountain lagoon.*

 

 

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