By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – The Bailes de Luces Festival of La Castellana, Negros Occidental kicked off Saturday with the Lights On Ceremony led by Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan.
Thousands of residents gathered in front of the municipal hall and waited for almost an hour for the program to start due to a power outage.
Mangilimutan, who was joined by the Vice Mayor Manuel Vera and councilors also led the countdown to the Lights On followed by the fireworks display.
The mayor said this year’s Lights On and Bailes de Luces is more directed at increasing awareness for the environment.
She said materials used for the Lights On as well as the Bailes de Luces are recyclable materials.
The grand prize for the Lights On and the Bailes de Luces is P100,000.00.
In her message during the opening, Mangilimutan assured local and foreign tourists of the peace and order during the festival, which will run until Jan 5, 2020.
She also urged residents to cooperate in preventing crimes as she assured that police augmented by the Philippine Army are making the security rounds.
She said Bailes de Luces has gone a long way already after winning in an open competition in Korea.
In January next year, Bailes de Luces will compete in the open category of the Sinulog festival in Cebu and in April 2020 in Rome, Italy.
Mangilimutan said that on Jan 5, 2020, the culmination of the festival, Mayor Won Chang Muk of Wonju City, South Korea will be the guest of honor.
