The Grupo Dies Y Siete (Barangay 17) bested 11 other participants in the Lantern Dance Parade competition Sunday during the BacoLaodiat Festival in Bacolod City.

Danz World Co. was first runner-up and Double “J” Full Force was second runner-up.

Grupo Dies Y Siete won P60,000 in cash, Danz World Co. – P40,000 and Double “J” Full Force –P 20,000. The winners also received trophies and certificates.

Artist Ian Valladarez also bested 11 other participants in the Dragon Lantern Making Contest and received a cash prize of P15,000.

Patrick Payumo and Lyster James Dingcong, won second and third place and received P10,000 and P5,000 in cash, respectively.

Martin Jereza was the grand winner in the Cannon photography contest and received an EOS 1000D DSLR camera.

Matthew Avincula, first runner-up, received a Powershot 5X220 HS camera, while Leonito Lopue was second runner-up and received an iP2770 Pixma Printer.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the BacoLaodiat Festival is another leap forward. “It is clearly accepted by the people as part of our regular calendar in Bacolod City,” he said.

Leonardia said the participants and the crowd that gathered for the 4-day event had exceeded all its previous celebrations. An added impetus was that, for the first time, the President declared the Chinese New Year as a non-working holiday, he said.

“After the MassKara Festival, this is the biggest. The crowd that gathered at the Government Center at the culmination last night was overwhelming and beyond our expectations,” Leonardia said.

Every year the BacoLaodiat Festival keeps getting bigger and better, he said.

Leonardia said they are looking forward to the BacoLaodiat Festival, not only as a uniting factor of the Filipino-Chinese community but also as a tourist attraction and economic stimulant for the city.

“So I would like to thank and congratulate BacoLaodiat chairman Leonilto “Diotay” Lopue, the BacoLaodiat Foundation Board, and all those in the government and private sectors who worked so hard to ensure the success of this Chinese New Year’s Day celebration,” he said.*CGS

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