It’s more fun in the Philippines: Negros Occidental celebrates 22nd Panaad Festival; One Island, One Dream
by Leony R. Garcia
All roads to Bacolod City, the capital city of Negros Occidental, as the province celebrates The Panaad sa Negros Festival. Also called the Panaad Festival, it is a festival held annually during the month of April.
Panaad is the Hiligaynon word for “vow” or “promise”; the festival is a form of thanksgiving to Divine Providence and commemoration of a vow in exchange for a good life. The celebration is held at the Panaad Park and Stadium, which also houses the Panaad Sports Complex, and is participated in by the 13 cities and 19 towns of the province. For this reason, Negros Occidental dubs it the “mother” of all its festivals.
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The theme for this year is “One Island,One Dream″.
The first Panaad sa Negros Festival was held at Capitol Park and Lagoon in a three-day affair in 1993 that started April 30. The festival was held at the lagoon fronting the Provincial Capitol for the first four years. As the festival grew each year, it became necessary to locate a more spacious venue. In 1997, the festival was held at the reclaimed area near where the BREDCO Port is located today.
The construction of the Panaad Park and Stadium paved the way for the establishment of the Panaad Park as the permanent home of the festival.
The Panaad sa Negros Festival Committee has set guidelines for the food and drinks, garden show and extension kiosks rental for the duration of the festival slated April 13 – 19, 2015 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
A total of 159 kiosks were made available for rental, with food and drinks – 87 slots; garden show – 27 slots; extension kiosks – 30 slots, and ice cream, shakes, hotdogs, etc. – 25 slots.
The week-long celebration opens with a festive type of open market showcasing the produce and best products of Negros Occidental as offered by various towns, groups and enterprising individuals. It culminates with a grand festival of dances of the region with each town and city vying for the top prize.
For years now, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and his team has painstakingly promoted the festival as a way of uniting the Negrense especially when it comes to food security and sustainability. Number one on the list is going natural and organic as a way of giving back to Mother Nature and caring for the environment. Three years ago, the governor also imported lambs and goats for local breeding to provide the province’s demand for steady supply of meat and livestock. Today, the lambs and goats have local breeds which have adjusted well to Negros Occidental cool weather.
