Pana-ad Fesival 2012: 20,000 flock Panaad Festival opening

Around 20,000 crowd flocked the opening day yesterday of the week-long 19th Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Brgy. Mansilingan Bacolod City.

A jam-packed Panaad Stadium with an estimated 20 thousand crowd during the opening ceremonies of the 19th Panaad sa Negros Festival.*(RJ Baldonado photo)
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The estimate of foot traffic was made by Chief Inspector Luisito Acebuche, head of the Bacolod City Police Traffic Management Unit, said Ma. Lina Sanogal, Panaad Festival director, last night.

Sanogal added that the crowd at the Panaad Stadium during the opening ceremonies reached to 12,000, excluding the dancers and performers of the festival dance competitions of 19 towns and 13 cities.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., in his welcome message, said that he is very proud of the Panaad Festival as it showcases Negros Occidental’s delicious food, colorful festivals, and even pretty ladies.

The success of the Panaad Festival, now on its 19th year, shows the increasing number of guests and tourists who flocked each year, he said.

Marañon challenged the Negrenses to stay united to ensure the continued growth and development of Negros Occidental.

Sanogal said, “We have guests from different provinces and international guests in The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival and they were impressed with the LGUs’ pavilions and festival dances.”

FESTIVAL DANCE

San Carlos City’s Pintaflores Festival won the grand prize in the Festival Dance Competition, held after the opening rites, according to Rudy Reveche, Festival Dance Committee chairman.

Pintaflores, who was also last year’s champion, received P70,000 in cash prize.

Binalbagan’s Balbagan Dance Festival won second place with P60,000; La Castellana’s Bailes de Luces won third place—PP50,000; Isabela’s Tigkalalag Festival won fourth place—P40,000; and Bago City’s Babaylan Festival won fifth place—P30,000, Reveche said.

Judging the Festival Dance Competition were Larry Gabao of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Dance Committee, Steve Villaruz of World Dance Alliance, Annie Sartorio of University of San Agustin (Iloilo) Kawilihan Dance Company, Carlou Bernaldez of Negros Oriental State University, and Susan Arsega of Aliwan Fiesta.

FLOAT CONTEST

Meanwhile, Sagay City and San Enrique won the Best in Float competition in the city and municipality categories, respectively.

EVENTS

This year’s Panaad Festival highlights the theme “19 Years of Panaad sa Negros: More Food, Fun and Festivals.”

Today, on its second day, ‘Hataw sa Panaad’ with Ching’s Group starts at 6 a.m. followed by sports events such as athletics, chess and the Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival at 7:30 a.m.

At 1 p.m. will be the Drum and Bugle Competition, while Composo and Pop Song Writing Competitions will be at 6 p.m. also at stadium.

Tomorrow, the TESDA Livelihood Skills Olympics will be held at 8 a.m. at the Panaad Covered Court; taekwondo and boxing sports events at 1 p.m. at the 2nd level of the stadium; Latin Dance Sport is at 3 p.m. at NOMPAC; RMN’s Panaad Hip Hop Challenge is at 7 p.m. at the Panaad Park Stage and UNILEVER’s “Pop Fiesta” at 8 p.m. at the stadium.

On Thursday, ABS-CBN’s Halad sa Kapamilya is at 9 a.m. at the Panaad Covered Court. Environment activity will be at 3 p.m. at the Panaad Park Stage and at 5 p.m.; the Visayan Folk Dances Competition takes place at the stadium and will be followed by the M.O.R. Local Stock-Ilonggo Music Fest at 8 p.m.

The Lin-ay sang Negros Grand Coronation Night takes centerstage on Friday 7 p.m. at the stadium.

Outstanding Farmers, Fisherfolk Livestock Raisers Awards jointly organized by Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Veterinary Office and ABS-CBN will highlight the festivities on Saturday at 6 p.m. while ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Fiesta Caravan will be at 9 p.m. at the Panaad Stadium.

Awarding and presentation of winners will cap the weeklong celebration on Sunday during the closing ceremony which will be followed by the Panaad Drumbeating Showcase and Fireworks Display.*DBDangcalan