BACOLOD City – Despite having a limited budget, this year’s Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival promises to be more vibrant and extravagant than ever.
Councilor Celia Flor, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on markets, assured the public in a recent interview that the city is maximizing its resources to deliver a festive five-day celebration.
“The budget is only P1.250 million, the same as last year’s, but this year’s festivities will be bongga,” she said, adding that the three identified festival sites are The Upper East–Megaworld, SM City Bacolod, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Last year, the festival was held over three days. This year, it has been extended to five days, running from May 21 to 25.
Despite the unchanged budget, the longer celebration will not compromise the event’s quality due to support from various sponsors, the councilor said.
The festival will officially kick off with a ceremonial grilling at 10 a.m. on May 21 at the temporary Manokan Country at SM City Bacolod.
The highlight of the celebration — the chicken inasal arena dance competition — will take place on May 25 at The Upper East, which will also serve as the venue for the closing ceremony.
City Ordinance No. 847, which amended Section 1 of Ordinance No. 482, officially renamed the event from the Manokan Country Inasal Festival to the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Festival. The ordinance mandates that the festival be held annually every May./PN
