A well-timed Bacoloadiat

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

It augurs well for the adoption by Bacolod City of the new festival it has significantly named the “Bacoloadiat,” that the President has also declared the date of its climax as a special holiday. This establishes a precedent that future administrations may take a cue from, and also issue similar proclamations for the day.

The proclamation acknowledges the special ties between the Philippines and China, thousands, maybe even millions, of whose citizens have settled in the Philippines centuries back, and have assimilated the culture of this country, while sharing with it some of their own. All those years the Chinese settlers here have intermarried and, to this day, millions also of Filipinos have some Chinese blood in their veins, which is why there has always been mutual relationships and coordination between them.

The celebration of the Bacolaodiat festival began in 2006, or seven years ago, and has since grown by leaps and hounds, into what we are witnessing now. Aside from its full acceptance by the community, it has also drawn the support and cooperation of local businesses who are also benefitting from it, as well as enjoying the activities being presented during it.

Adding more significance to the Bacolaodiat is the fact that it has also evolved into the creation of the Bacolod Chinatown Center that promises to become another growth center for the city. Both Filipino-Chinese and native Bacoleño and Negrense businessmen are one in welcoming this new icon of the city business community that has come into being, right during the celebration of the Bacoloadiat, and the Chinese New Year.

Kung Hei Fat Choy, therefore, to everyone!*