By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – The 28th Panaad sa Negros festival commenced this Monday at the provincial capitol lagoon, marked by the sashing of the Lin-ay sa Negros candidates.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, during a press briefing in his office, expressed his delight that all local government units (LGUs), including the highly urbanized Bacolod, are participating in the event. He announced that 29 candidates would represent their localities in the Lin-ay sang Negros after three were eliminated in the preliminary rounds.
“Every time we celebrate a festival, we want it to be enjoyable to the public. We know that Negrenses love to go to concerts and watch pageants,” Lacson stated.
With a focus on enjoyment, the governor hopes the 28th Panaad sa Negros festival will live up to expectations. Preparations are underway across LGUs in Negros Occidental for the annual event.
Revered as the province’s central festival, the Panaad sa Negros festival is scheduled from April 15-21, 2024, at the Panaad Park and Stadium. This year’s event is steered by provincial tourism officer Cheryl Decena as the chairperson of the executive committee.
Lacson also mentioned that each LGU would receive a P300,000 subsidy to enhance their pavilions at the Panaad Park and Stadium, matching the previous year’s amount.
The governor called on all local chief executives to support and cooperate for the successful execution of the festivities. The Panaad sa Negros annually showcases each locality’s products in dedicated pavilions. Participation in the festival dance competition is also encouraged among the LGUs.
The festival’s highlights include the Lin-ay sang Negros beauty pageant, and this year, a trade fair titled “Best of Negros Products” aims to attract more visitors to the celebration.
