By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Preparations are in full swing for the 29th Panaad sa Negros Festival, which is set to take place from March 24 to 30, 2025, at the Panaad Park and Stadium.
Charina Magallanes Tan, designated by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson as the Panaad Executive Director, said the festival will officially launch on February 24, 2025.
Tan confirmed that preparations are well underway, with the festival coinciding with the start of the campaign period for local candidates vying for regional, provincial, city, municipal, and House of Representatives positions, which begins on March 28.
Governor Lacson shared that some candidates running for national positions have been invited to participate in the weeklong celebration.
The Panaad sa Negros Festival showcases the festivals, history, cultural heritage, commerce, industry, and tourism potential of all cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental, including the highly urbanized Bacolod City.
Last year, the festival generated total sales of PHP 19,250,439.50. Local government unit (LGU) pavilions earned the largest share with PHP 11,808,939.80, followed by San Miguel/Garden Show with PHP 4,461,985.20, Food Alley with PHP 1,703,403.50, the Provincial Veterinary Office with PHP 870,230, the Trade Fair with PHP 264,550, and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) with PHP 141,331.
The festival’s name, “Panaad,” is derived from the Hiligaynon word for “vow” or “promise.” It symbolizes thanksgiving to Divine Providence and the fulfillment of vows in exchange for a good life.
The celebration is held at Panaad Park, home to the Panaad Stadium, and involves the participation of 13 cities and 19 municipalities across the province. For this reason, Negros Occidental dubs it the “mother of all festivals.”
Established by the provincial government in May 1993, the first Panaad festival lasted three days and coincided with the historical separation of Negros Occidental from Negros Oriental in 1901.
The festival’s activities were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but have since resumed, making it a significant annual event for the province.
