Negros opens ‘Silver Panaad’

BACOLOD City – Today, Negros will start celebrating its weeklong Panaad sa Negros, the “festival of festivals” in the island.

Organizers said they are holding the “silver” edition of the festival now on its 25th year at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan.

This year’s edition carries the theme “Panaad at 25: The Promise Fulfilled.”

Panaad sa Negros has become a “Hall of Famer” in the Philippines in terms of tourism practices, according to festival executive director and action officer Ma. Lina Sanogal.

In October last year – for the third consecutive year – Panaad sa Negros was recognized by the Department of Tourism and the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines as  Best Provincial Tourism Event – Provincial Festival Category.

The recognition was given during ceremonies for the Pearl Award: ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippine Awards, said Sanogal, also head of Negros Occidental’s Provincial Planning and Development Office.

The capitol official believes this recognition will help “usher in more tourists to our festival site.”

“Other provinces have always been coming [over] to benchmark with us,” Sanogal pointed out.

A key feature of Panaad sa Negros is the display and sale of various products – agricultural produce, handicrafts and foodstuffs, among others, unique to the municipalities and cities – in booths at the Panaad Park.

Kicking off the weeklong festival is a motorcade from the Negros Occidental provincial capitol at 2 p.m. and a program for the ceremonial opening at 4 p.m. at the Panaad Stadium.

Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri, assistant secretary for external and legislative affairs of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, will attend as guest of honor.

Other events that will highlight the opening ceremony are the annual Festival of Dances Competition, with LGU representatives as contenders, and a fireworks display at 8 p.m./PN

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