Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has requested the Department of Education to allow the school children to witness the first Bacolaodiat Festival in Bacolod City that will kick-off with a grand cultural parade on Friday at 3 p.m.

In his letter to Bacolod Schools Division Superintendent Milagros Gonzales, dated Jan. 31, Leonardia said the Chinese New Year festival will become a regular annual festivity and is expected to bring in more investments and tourists from various areas of the country, and eventually, China and Taiwan.

He said this is a historic moment for Bacolod and it will be something the students will remember for a long, long time.

Negros Tsinoy chairman Alfredo Barcelona said their group has helped organize the exhibit of 23 sets of Chinese costumes of different dynasties, dubbed "Crossing Cultural Barriers", at the Negros Museum which will open at 5 p.m. today. He said executive vice president Andres Valencia of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry had worked out the activity with the Taipei Economic Cultural Office in Manila.

Barcelona said they are also expecting business tycoon Lucio Tan on Saturday. He said Mayor Evelio Leonardia will sign an Executive Order declaring Tan an Honorary Mayor of Bacolod at rites to be held at the City Mayor's Office.

A testimonial luncheon in honor of Tan will follow where he will be conferred the honor of an adopted son of Bacolod, Barcelona said. During the affair, Tan will turn over the three schools he has donated to Bacolod, Victorias and Murcia, as well as, nebulizers and an educational TV package, he said.

Barcelona said the life of Tan is very inspiring and they look up to him as a role model. He said Tan started from humble beginnings and as a janitor, only received P120 a month. Yet he was able to give half of his income to his father to help their cigar factory and save the rest for his education.

Barcelona said aside from establishing his business empire, 20 years ago, the Tan Yan Kee Foundation set up in memory of his father had spent millions to build schools, churches. One major project is his focus on health and education, Barcelona said.

He also said that like Tan, the Filipino-Chinese community in Bacolod has also donated schools, garbage bins, extended relief operations and provided assistance through the fire brigades of Amity and the Chinese Chamber. He said the local Chinese community and their counterpart in Manila has also put up the Tsinoy Village in Escalante to provide the less fortunate Filipinos a decent home. "We will continue to do these things because we do not just dream and talk but we do our job," he said.

Barcelona is requesting the Tsinoys and Pinoys in Negros and nearby provinces to bring their families and enjoy the first BacoLaodiat Festival with the theme "A loving family, a great nation," to be highlighted by fireworks display Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, the Viva Hot Babes will be featured during the Tanduay Night that starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Bacolod plaza.*CGS

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