The BacoLaodiat Festival is a celebration of the unity between the Filipinos and Chinese, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said yesterday during the opening of the 10th BacoLaodiat Festival in Bacolod City with the theme “A Decade of Celebration. A Lifetime of Harmony.”

BacoLaodiat was coined from the name of the City of Bacolod and the Fookien word “laodiat” which means happy celebration. The festival was initiated in 2005 by former Mayor Evelio Leonardia together with some leaders of the Filipino-Chinese Community in Bacolod City after experiencing the Chinese New Year celebration in Iloilo City.

It has since became an annual celebration that has one of the most popular and most colorful in the country today.

Puentevella said the Chinese community has contributed a lot to Bacolod City particularly during calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

“So we are thankful and are celebrating that unity during the BacoLaodiat Festival,” Puentevella said.

The Bacoloadiat Festival started yesterday from Island Triangle at the Capitol Shopping Center to the festival site at the North Capitol Road with a dragon and lion dance parade participated in by city officials and officers of the Bacolod-Chinese community in Bacolod City.

Joining the parade were Puentevella and his wife Josefa, Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, Councilors Ana Marie Palermo and Sonya Verdeflor, festival director Stephanie Ong, Andres Valencia and Fred Barcelona, who also led the ribbon cutting to open the Chopsticks Alley at the festival site.

Ong said she hopes that in the Year of the Goat, people’s lives will be more harmonious and peaceful because the goat is a peaceful animal and will bring luck in money matters.

“So if you have a project today, it has a big chance to succeed,” she said.

Ong thanked the mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod for their all out support to the BacoLaodiat Festival during a cultural show featuring the performances of students from the different Chinese schools in the city.

She said the incense burning ceremony held yesterday marked the start of the BacoLaodiat Festival. She also invited the public to visit the Imperial Garden at the PNB grounds where there is live goat feeding, fortune sticks, and a wishing tree.

Ong said another cultural show will be held today, while at the Chopsticks Alley, one could find food that are usually cooked in Tsinoy homes,.

They have also invited the Imperial Cloud Walkers from Manila, who have acrobats unicyclists, and stilt walkers, as an added attraction, she said.

Ong invited everybody to come and have fun and to enjoy eating Chinese food.

Puentevella said this is probably the biggest Chinese Festival celebration outside of Manila. Maybe this is one reason that the MassKara Festival dancers of Bacolod have been chosen to represent the Philippines during the Chinese New Year celebration in Hong Kong.

He said that perhaps Bacolod is now becoming popular. He believes BacoLaodiat will become bigger and bigger and someday, and they also plan to hold a Miss BacoLaodiat beauty pageant.

Puentevella invited the people of Bacolod and Negros Occidental to come and enjoy the 4-day BacoLaodiat Festival that ends on Sunday and experience the cooperation between the Filipino and Chinese communities.

Other activities yesterday include the ABS-CBN Dance to Life with the Authority Band, and the Globe night. The event was capped by fireworks display.

A table tennis competition will be held at Lopue’s San Sebastian today until Sunday, while the SJI Night, ABS-CBN Fit for Life, and GMA Kapuso Night will be held today.

A lantern dance competition will be held along the Tourism Strip that will start at 6 p.m. tomorrow.*CGS

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