My First Ever Bacolaodiat Festival
Like I said in my previous post, this is my first time ever to attend the Bacolaodiat Festival. When the festival committee sent the Negrense Blogging Society, Inc. an invitation to attend and cover the activities (February 7-10, 2013), I immediately sent out the call to our board and other Negros bloggers. After getting our press kits, I was supposed to meet up with 2 other bloggers to watch the dazzling dance parade, lantern street dance competition, the cultural show and then dinner at the chopstick's alley. Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the parade (could not get off work) and so, I am still waiting for the pictures that one of our other board member took. Here are some pictures from last year which I took from their website.
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Anyway, I was able to watch the
cultural show with my blogger friends and it was very interesting with lots of colors and lights. Participants were the students of the three Chinese schools in Bacolod
City as well as the many Chinese family, business and volunteer
organizations who entertained the audience with Chinese songs and
dances. A parade of ethnic Chinese costumes was also very educational. I did not know that there are these many tribes and costumes existing even till today in China. It was a great cultural and learning experience. The pictures I took are a bit grainy since I used only my point and shoot camera.
Also this year, there was an attempt for the Guinness Book of World Records on the longest human snake dance. The snake dance started from the 22nd Street to the North Capitol Road and was about 850 meters long or maybe more since it was not exactly a straight line. It was performed by 1,000 students of the Domingo Lacson National High School.
Also this year, there was an attempt for the Guinness Book of World Records on the longest human snake dance. The snake dance started from the 22nd Street to the North Capitol Road and was about 850 meters long or maybe more since it was not exactly a straight line. It was performed by 1,000 students of the Domingo Lacson National High School.
There is no video yet of the 2013 Bacolaodiat Festival but I am posting the 2012 official AVP, so you can get a good idea of how Bacolod City celebrates the Chinese New Year. I believe that there is no other festival like this in the country.
Festival Chairman Dr. Leonito Lopue and his committee outdid themselves this year. I congratulate the Chinese community for their all out cooperation in sharing their culture, heritage and history. There was a bigger participation from various groups not only from Bacolod but from the whole province as well. There was a much larger crowd this year, more bands and more food choices in Chopsticks Alley. My friends and I ordered fried noodles, siomai and garlic tofu from the Mushu Restaurant booth. I was too hungry to take some pictures but let me assure you, it was all yummy!
Happy Year of the Snake everyone!
Happy Year of the Snake everyone!
OK yung grupo ninyo ah. You get invited to these events. This is the first time I heard of this festival. The photos looks good. Gusto ko tuloy ma-experience na pumunta dito.
ReplyDeleteIt is not surprising that there's a lot of ethnic groups in China. Sa laki ba naman ng bansa nila. Dito sa atin, ang liit nasila iba-ibang ethnic groups din.
I have yet to enjoy a festival of that magnitude, the festival looks like a lot of fun
ReplyDelete- Wanderer Juan
The Bacolaodiat festival looks lots of fun and very festive.
ReplyDeleteParang ang saya ng festival. Sana makapunta at maexperience korin ang festival na ganito. So far kasi Kadayawan palang ang napuntahan ko.
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to fly to Bacolod! I want to watch Chinese cultural shows too!
ReplyDeleteLooks super fun! Festivals are always enjoyable to participate in.
ReplyDelete:) Erika
Na experience ko na to nung 2012! A very interesting Festival in Bacolod during Feb/Chinese New Year. Naalala ko pa yung mahabang display ng Christmas lanterns sa Lacson st at mga live bands sa bawat kanto
ReplyDeleteVery colorful festival! I like it that even at night the colors seem to burst from the pictures :) The festival also looks real fun - eh lahat naman cguro ng festivals full of fun no? :)
ReplyDeleteSeems a very festive event. colorful display of Chinese culture.
ReplyDeleteive always wanted to visit Bacolod. i never knew they have this kind of festivals aside from Masskara. i hope they were able to make it in the Guiness Record with their snake dance :)
ReplyDeleteang colorful!
ReplyDeleteChinese new year really is..
Didn't know mas bonga sa Bacolod..
In Iloilo, I would know when the Chinese community celebrates when fireworks alight the iloilo night sky in February.
As we all know, aside from the dragon dances, Chinese are great makers of fireworks.
This also reminds me of a date I had with well an EX.. hahaha!
I hope to experience this in Bacolod soon.
I have been to Bacolod manay times during my college year, but not as a travel blogger that I am now.
Francis, come to Masskara in October and Bacolaodiat in February. The Chinese Festival is not as famous or as big in scale but it is starting to be a tradition and people really look forward to this.
DeleteI love watching cultural show back in the old days when there was a lot of free time.
ReplyDeleteI never been to Bacolod but I heard the people there are in nature malambing, is that true?
@Jhoveleen, hahaha, well compared to other regions we are generally more malambing in our intonation not necessarily by nature ;)
DeleteGreat colorful festival indeed. Love to attend such event.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like no one else does this kind of festival. :) The Bacolaodiat Festival is indeed one to be anticipated and experienced every year. :)
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like no one else does this kind of festival. :) The Bacolaodiat Festival is indeed one to be anticipated and experienced every year. :)
ReplyDeleteSo fun to be part of a bloggers association that gets together every events! We do it also here in Davao. First time to here about the bacolaodiat festival but seems so fun and nice to watch.
ReplyDeleteColors... FUN... people around... There's something to look forward to every year in Bacolod. You're lucky to witness the festivities.
ReplyDeleteThis is another colorful festival in the Philippines, by the way how did the festival got its name?
ReplyDeleteBacolaodiat Festival, Bacolod City's very own Chinese New Year Festival--it comes from the words "Bacolod" & "Lao Diat" (Fookien word for celebration).
Deletethe lights of the festival were just amazing... this is one thing to look forward to in visiting bacolod... though never tried, love to go there not only for the event but to see the place. Yahweh bless.
ReplyDelete