BACOLOD City – The three-day Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival kicks off today on the North Capitol Road in this city.
With a vision to create platforms and portals for both global and national audiences, the festival celebrats Bacolod’s rich culinary heritage, particularly its famous chicken inasal, and vibrant culture.
The city government has allocated P2 million for the festival that will be staged in two other venues: Manokan Country in Reclamation Area and Megaworld-Upper in Barangay Villamonte.
Earlier, City Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on tourism, told Panay News that they expect more tourists to join this year’s Chicken Inasal Festival.
Last year, he said around 18,000 to 20,000 tourists from Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo took part in the celebration.
To ensure a peaceful festival, around 500 police officers were deployed across the festival sites, along with force multipliers.
Police Lieutenant colonel Ronnie Brillo, spokesperson for the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said several security personnel will also conduct roving patrol.
Festival-goers are reminded that firearm and any other deadly weapons and sharp objects are prohibited at the festival sites.
Brillo appeals to the public to cooperate during the duration of the festival in order to avoid any untoward incidents and to ensure a peaceful and joyful festival.
Organizers of this year’s Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival had included dance competitions as added attractions to the annual event.
To take chicken inasal global, new events include the dance challenge and modern movement competition as well as the global beats or street dance competition.
Other events include Food Tasting & Beer Pairing, Barangay Inasal Cook-Off & Workshops, Bacolod Chicken Inasal Awards.
The arena dance competition, which will be participated by several barangays, will be the highlight of the closing ceremony at the Upper East on May 26.
The first Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival was held in 2018 and was followed by another in 2019 before taking a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic./PN
