This year marks the 32nd celebration of the MassKara Festival with the theme “Celebrating the New icons of Bacolod”.

It talks about the new structures all over the city which symbolizes Bacolod’s progress making it one of the country’s growth center. Some of these new icons include Bacolod City Government Center, Pope John Paul II Tower, SM City Bacolod, East Block, The Chalet of L’Fisher Hotel, Planta Hotel, and Art District.

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Read the rest of Bacolod MassKara Festival 2011 Schedule

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Post tags: Bacolod, Bacolod City, Bacolod Events, Bacolod Festivals, Bacolod Tourism, Bacolod Travel, Festivals, Masskara Festival, MassKara Festival 2011, Negros Festival, Negros Occidental, Negros Occidental Festivals, Tourism Negros, Visayan Festivals

This year’s celebration is slated on February 3-6, 2011. Negrenses welcome the Year of the Rabbit with the theme “Hopping Towards Prosperity”.

Bacolaodiat is coined from “Bacolod” and “Lao Diat” – a Fokien word for celebration.

A grand parade, fireworks display, dragon dance and other various events will be held at 4th to 17th Lacson Streets while the Chopsticks Alley, a food and fair strip, one of the most sought-after during the celebration will be at the North Capitol Road.

Below is the summary of what’s happening in the Bacolod’s Bacolaodiat Festival 2011.

Bacolaodiat Festival 2011 Schedule:

February 3, 2011
Grand Parade – 5pm, with colorful and larger-than-life zodiac animals
Chopsticks Alley Opening – 6pm, along North Capitol Road
Cultural Show – 6:30pm
Symphonty of Lights and Sparks – 9pm

February 4, 2011
Parade of Mascots and Street Acts – 4pm, North Capitol Road
Kapuso Night – 5:30pm, with GMA Network artists, Fireworks Display and live bands

February 5, 2011
Lion and Dragon Dance Street Exhibition – 6pm
Lantern Dance Parade – 8pm
Giant Rabbit Lantern Showcase – 10pm

February 6, 2011
Bacolaodiat Festival 2011 Closing and Awarding Ceremonies, SM City Bacolod

January 17-31, 2011
Bacolaodiat Through the Years Photo Exhibit, SM City Bacolod East Bridgeway
Chinese Minority Costumes Exhibit, SM City Bacolod East Bridgeway

February 6-12, 2011
The Zodiac Animals Display, SM City Bacolod Al Fresco Areas

[Photo Courtesy: http://www.byahilo.com/]

Related posts:

1. Bacolaodiat Festival 2010: Ushering the Chinese New Year in Bacolod
2. Iloilo Chinese New Year Celebration 2011
3. “The Festival of Face” Masskara 2009 Schedule

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Post tags: Bacolaodiat, Bacolaodiat Festival, Bacolaodiat Festival 2011, Bacolod, Bacolod Chinese New Year, Bacolod City, Bacolod Events, Bacolod Festivals, Negros Occidental Festivals, SM City Bacolod

As part of the expansion program, Puregold is expected to open 15 more branches within the first half of 2011 and a total of 35 new stores within the year.

After its successful penetration in the saturated Luzon market, Puregold is set to conquer the so called “underserved” Visayas and Mindanao markets. Plans are underway of establishing the retail brand in Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Leyte, and Cebu in the Visayas as well as in Cagayan de Oro, Davao City and General Santos City in Mindanao.

Puregold is very much welcome in Iloilo to give the Ilonggos more choices for their shopping needs. It will definitely give a tough competition among the local supermarket chains here as well as with the national players like SM, Robinsons and Gaisano.

Iloilo expansion and the rest of the Vis-Min plans are expected to commence by 2012.

Via The Philippine Star, Image courtesy: http://puregold.com.ph

Related posts:

1. Will Iloilo have another SM Mall?
2. CaliforniaBerry opens at SM City Iloilo
3. Visayas Blogging Summit 2010 in Iloilo

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Post tags: Hypermarket, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Puregold, Supermarkets, Visayas

Miss Western Visayas Tourism is the most prestigious battle of beauties  from all over the region. It consists of the reigning festival queens from all over the 6 provinces and several towns of Western Visayas.

This year’s pageant 9 contestants were: Miss Ibajay Tourism, Julie Ann Dionisio of Aklan Province; Miss Pahinis Festival Queen, Zyra Grace Vedad of Antique Province; Miss Maskara, Agnes Therese Chang of Bacolod City; Miss Halaran, Ivana Isidora Besa of Capiz Province; Mutya Ng Guimaras, Mary Rose Andaluz of Guimaras Province; Miss Paraw Regatta, Pauline Asegurado of Iloilo City; Miss Dinagyang, Angelie Joy Golingay of Iloilo City; Lin-ay Sang Negros, Kareen Ty of Negros Occidental and Binibining Leon Tourism, Nikki Beatingo of Iloilo Province.

The Winners:

Photo by: Felipe Uygongco

Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2010: Angelie Joy Golingay – Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City

First Runner-up: Zyra Grace Vidad – Pahinis Festival, Antique

Second Runner-up: Agnes Marie Chang – Masskara Festival, Bacolod City

Third Runner-up: Pauline Asegurado – Paraw Regatta Festival, Iloilo City

Fourth Runner-up: Julie Ann Dionisio – Ati-Atihan Festival, Aklan

CONGRATULATIONS!

Related posts:

1. Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2009 Winners
2. Western Visayas Tourism Assembly 2009
3. Miss Dinagyang 2010 Winners

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Post tags: Miss Dinagyang, Miss Western Visayas, Miss Western Visayas Tourism, Miss Western Visayas Tourism 2010

The tower is composed of seven (7) stories with a relatively small floor area that made it really look like a tower. The Pope celebrated a Eucharist on this actual site before an assembly of almost a million people on February 20, 1981 during his memorable visit.

This landmark stands in a 700 square-meter lot at the  reclamation area within the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation (BREDCO) area just across SM City Bacolod. An 8-foot sculpture of the Pope was also built beside to complement the tower.You can have a clear and crisp panoramic view of Bacolod and the Guimaras Straight here than anywhere else in the city for FREE. No entrance fee or something to be paid but there is no elevator in the building, you have to trek your way up until you reach the summit of the tower.

SM City Bacolod

BREDCO

Also exhibited inside the tower are the memorabilia and photos of the Pope’s visit.

Related posts:

1. Bacolaodiat Festival 2010: Ushering the Chinese New Year in Bacolod
2. SuperCat is Back: Iloilo – Bacolod v.v.
3. RoRo from Dumangas Port to Bacolod

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Post tags: Bacolod, Bacolod City, Bacolod Tourism, Bacolod Travel, Pope John Paul II Tower, SM City Bacolod

See the the Masskara Festival 2010 Schedule below and plan your trip to Bacolod this October.

October 1, 2010 Opening of the Festival Site (Public Plaza)
October 9, 2010 MassKara Queen
October 15, 16, 2010 Electric MassKara
Octber 15 & 16, 2010 MassKara Street Dance Competition
October 18, 2010 Countdown to the Charter Day Celebration
October 19 73rd Charter Day Anniversary

Related posts:

1. “The Festival of Face” Masskara 2009 Schedule
2. Masskara Festival 2009 Photos
3. Masskara Festival 2009 Official Winners

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Post tags: Masskara 2010, Masskara Festival, Masskara Festival 2010, Masskara Festival 2010 Schedule

Bacolod has its own version of the Chinese New Year celebration every year as such that of Iloilo called Bacolaodiat. Etymologically, Bacolaodiat is coined from “Bacolod” and “Lao Diat” – a Fokien word for celebration. It was started 5 years ago and now it is a much anticipated event in the city that draws attention to every Bacolodnon even outside of the Filipino-Chinese Community. The main purpose of this event aside from celebrating the new year of the Lunar calendar is the assimilation of the Chinese with their Filipino brothers and sisters, and bringing the Chinese culture to a better understanding.

This year’s edition is set on February 12 to 14, and will feature Chinese national ethnic costumes that were specially ordered from China. There will also be street, lion and dragon dances, food festivals that will showcase the Chopsticks Alley – all Chinese food fest, and cultural programs featuring the colorful Chinese traditions.

This year’s theme centered to “Leap of courage with renewed vitality.”

Below is the list of detailed activities of the 3-day Bacolaodiat Festival 2010 for your perusal.

February 12, 2010
4:00 pm Chopsticks Alley North Capitol Road (beside the provincial lagoon)
4:30 pm Dazzling Grand Parade (Bacolod plaza to Provincial Lagoon)
6:30 pm Convergence (A Tsinoy Show)
9:00 pm Symphony of Lights & Sparks (Fireworks Display)
9:30 pm Globe Night – Live Band

February 13, 2010
4:00 pm Chopsticks Alley North Capitol Road (beside the provincial lagoon)
7:00 pm Lantern Street Dancing Competition (Lagoon to 22nd Lacson St.)
10:00 pm Symphony of Lights & Sparks (Fireworks Display)
10:30 pm Rexona Night – Rico Blanco Live
12:00 am Closeup Lovapalooza (Kissing Couple)

February 14, 2010
4:00 pm Chopsticks Alley North Capitol Road (beside the provincial lagoon)
5:30 pm Kapuso Night
9:00 pm Symphony of Lights & Sparks (Fireworks Display)

ILOILO CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2010 SCHEDULE

Related posts:

1. Iloilo Chinese New Year Celebration 2010
2. SuperCat is Back: Iloilo – Bacolod v.v.
3. Panaad sa Negros Festival 2010 Schedule

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Post tags: Bacolaodiat Festival, Bacolaodiat Festival 2010, Bacolaodiat Schedule 2010, Bacolod, Bacolod Chinese New Year, Bacolod City

The annual Panaad sa Negros Festival of Negros Occidental is again taking the center stage this 2010 in bringing the best of the island. It converges the festivals and fiestas of each town and city of the province to have a single celebration in the province’s capital, Bacolod City. The celebration not only include the showcase of festivals but also the different agri crops and indigenous products of each municipality and city in an agri-trade fair.

This year is the 17th edition of the celebration and is set on March 20-27 2010 with most events to be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

The detailed schedule of activities for the Panaad sa Negros 2010 will be posted here as soon as it is available.

Related posts:

1. Panaad sa Negros Festival
2. Ati-atihan 2010 Festival Schedule of Activities
3. Dinagyang Festival 2010 Schedule of Activities

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Post tags: Pana-ad Festival

In line with the recently concluded Western Visayas Tourism Assembly held in Roxas City in Capiz, a parade of Western Visayan Festivals was showcased.

Western Visayas has a rich culture depicted in the various festivals in its provinces consisted of Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, Aklan and Capiz. Each province has more than one festival held annually that draw tourists both local and foreign alike. Most of these tourism drawer events are held as one of the bests in the Philippines which is a true Western Visayan pride and a worth celebrating for during this gathering of tourism stockholders in the region.

However some of the known festivals did not show up in the fair due to some considerable reasons such as the Kasag Festival of Banate. Among the delegates in the fete were: Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo represented by Tribu Paghidaet of Lapaz National High School; Masskara Festival of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Pintaflores of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; Ati-atihan of Ibajay Aklan, Ati-atihan Sto. Nino of Kalibo, Aklan; Binirayan Festival of Antique; Manggahan Festival of Guimaras; Kahilwayan Festival of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; Pasalamat Festival of La Carlota City; Sigabong Sang Mga Kanyon of Bago City; Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival; and Sinadya sa Halaran of Roxas City and the province of Capiz.

Each delegation has showcased the best of what they have and swamped the streets of Roxas City last Friday, December 4th, 2009. Herds of people flocked the sidewalks to witness such an event when you don’t have to go far to see such a performance. You got to see all of Western Visayan Festivals performing in one setting. The parade commenced at the plaza and headed straight to Villareal Stadium where the presentations and final showdown was staged. The festivals face-off ended with a fireworks display to mark the opening of the Tourism Assembly and exhibits.

Below are the photos of the premier festivals of Western Visayas:

Binirayan Festival of Antique

Kahilwayan Festival/ Cry of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo

Masskara Festival of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City, Iloilo (represented by Tribu Paghidaet of Lapaz National High School)

Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

Sigabong Sang Mga Kanyon of Bago City

Paraw Regatta Festival of Iloilo City, Iloilo with there Samba de Regatta (represented by WVSU College of PESCAR)

Manggahan Festival of Guimaras

Ati-atihan Festival of Ibajay, Aklan

Ati-atihan of Kalibo, Aklan

Pasalamat Festival of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

Sinadya sa Halaran of Roxas City, Capiz

more photos at gigsilonggo.com OVI

Related posts:

1. Western Visayas Tourism Assembly 2009
2. Panaad sa Negros Festival
3. Festivals and Fiestas in Iloilo

© 2009 Junnjun Mendoza | Gigs Ilonggo | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ati-atihan, Binirayan Festival, Dinagyang Festival, Kahilwayan Festival, Masskara Festival, Paraw Regatta, Pasalamat Festival, Pintaflores Festival, Samba de Regatta, Sinadya sa Halaran, Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta Mardi Gras, Tourism, Western Visayas