Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the annual BacoLaodiat Festival that kicked off yesterday once again drew thousands of people, including tourists, which will be another boost to the local economy.

“I was informed that some of the hotels are fully booked,” the mayor said, also noting that the streets where the festival is being held were packed with people.

Drawing visitors to the city for the festival will entice others to visit the city again in the future, which will bode well for tourism, he said.

GMA Kapuso stars led by Claudine Barreto joined the BacoLaodiat Festival parade yesterday from SM City to the Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod City on board a float designed to look like a huge blue dragon, or water dragon.

Joining the parade were Bacolod City government officials led by Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, as well as the Filipino-Chinese community led by BacoLaodiat Festival chairman Leonito Lopue.

Other officials present were Councilor Caesar Distrito, Em Legaspi-Ang, Sonya Verdeflor and Catalino Alisbo who came in Chinese costumes.

Councilors Homer Bais and Al Victor Espino were also present during the cultural show at the North Capitol Road where songs and dances were performed by students of Trinity Christian School, Bacolod Tay Tung High School and St. John’s Institute.

Leonardia said the BacoLaodiat Festival has become a tourist attraction and is an example of the principle that “You can create something out of nothing.”

He said he is happy the Filipino-Chinese community responded very positively to his idea of celebrating the Chinese New Year. After the success of the first staging, it spread like wildfire and the people have embraced it, he added.

“From what we have seen in the past and what we are to see in terms of the color, attraction and the participation of the performers and the adoring crowd, I can say that this year will be another improvement. As our philosophy goes in the city and this administration, we always try to do better than our best,” Leonardia said.

This year is extra special because it is the Year of the Dragon so they have adopted the theme “A Majestic Spirit in a Challenging Year,” he said.

Leonardia said the dragon is a symbol of stability, progress and prosperity. “We look forward that within this year, Bacolod, no matter what the circumstances, will continue to sail on, survive and probably even accelerate its growth and development.

Sayson said they join their Tsinoy brothers in celebrating the Chinese New Year. Considering that this is a new year, they expect new challenges and improvement in the lives of the people, he said.

Lopue said the Year of the Water Dragon is expected to be a challenging year since the dragon loves challenges and is willing to take risks.

Businessman Crispin Chua said the BacoLaodiat Festival this year has drawn a bigger crowd compared to last year.

Ang said the “Chinese New Year is a time to welcome prosperity, wealth and longevity and to drive away negative chi from the past.”

This year is the year of the dragon and since it is a revered symbol, 2012 is expected to be a good year for the economy, she said.

“I hope that this year, our country will experience economic gains that will redound to the improvement of the life of every family. Let us usher in the new year with hope, renewed energy and positive attitude,” Ang said.

Distrito said “It is just proper and fitting to join our Chinese brothers in their celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Aside from institutionalizing the Chinese New Year, Bacolod will be opening the Chinatown Center to propel more business opportunities, and create another growth area, he said.

“As we celebrate with our Tsinoy brothers, we wish that the Year of the Dragon will bring more job opportunities, economic prosperity, a peaceful and orderly city, and that we will be spared from disasters,” Distrito said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said they have intensified their anti-criminality campaign and have neutralized three suspects, which indicates that there are bad guys in the streets who want to take advantage of the festivities and commit crimes.

He said they have upgraded their alert status to full alert to ensure they have maximum number of police personnel to be utilized in case of any untoward incident.*CGS

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