By Carla N. Cañet

The participating groups in the 4th BacoLaodiat dazzling parade braved the rains yesterday in line with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The animated and colorful dazzling parade showcased beautifully illuminated floats, lanterns, lions and dragons alongside Chinese drumbeaters, acrobats or Wu Shu and Kaddang dancers with a major float carrying a long-lighted dragon with lions.
The parade route is from the SM Bacolod South Carpark to the festival site.

This year’s BacoLaodiat Festival is organized by BacoLaodiat Inc. in cooperation with the City of Bacolod, Province of Negros Occidental, Department of Tourism, Negros Tsinoy Inc., Chowking, SM Bacolod, Pagcor and Triangle Island Plaza. This is also supported by Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

BacoLaodiat is derived from the words Bacolod and “Lao Diat”, which is Fookien for celebration.

Capitol Shopping Center, known as the Chinatown of Bacolod because of the great number of Chinese businessmen and residents in the area, was chosen as this year’s main festival site. The Chopsticks Alley were established along the streets of Narra and Lopez Jaena.

This food walk and night market will be lined up with colorful rolling carts of delicious Chinese food, souvenirs and art and crafts. Street performers wearing attractive and glittery Chinese costumes will surely entertain the crowd and add to the festive ambiance of the place.

The festival site has a Lantern Park, featuring a Symphony of Lights and Sparks.

This includes a nightly display of illuminated colorful giant lanterns by local artists and synchronized multi-fireworks show scored with music and drumbeats.

BacoLaodiat festival is a merging of two cultures in the Convergence: A Tsinoy Show with its line-up of Chinese and Filipino songs and dances, right after the Dazzling Parade.

Stay for the most exciting part of welcoming the Year of the Ox - the New Year countdown. It’s all happening just before the spectacular fireworks display around the main site.*