Bacoleños eagerly lined up the city streets yesterday to witness the first Bacolaodiat Festival in Bacolod City that was spearheaded by the Negros Tsinoy organization.

The parade that started at the Rizal Elementary featured the lion and dragon dancers, as well as, the MassKara dancers and the Pasalamat drumbeaters, among others, to show the blending of Filipino and Chinese cultures.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, together with some city officials, guests and government employees, waited at the Fountain of Justice and later joined the group of local Chinese families in the parade. With him were Iloilo Mayor Jerry Treñas, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, Transportation and Communication assistant secretary Ricardo Tan and the Negros Tsinoy led by their chairman Alfredo Barcelona.

Leonardia will sign an executive order today declaring business tycoon Lucio Tan an honorary mayor of Bacolod City at rites to be held at the City Mayor's Office.

Tan will be conferred the honor of an adopted son of Bacolod during a luncheon that will be attend by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, Puentevella, 3rd District Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson, Tan, Victorias Mayor Severo Palanca, and Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela.

Meanwhile, Barcelona presented a scroll done by a caligrapher from Shanghai, China to Leonardia, Tan and Puentevella as his gift to the city during a program at the Bacolod Plaza. "The gift is my personal way of showing honor and great love for Bacolod City," he said.

A lion dance exhibition was performed by the renowned Philippine Ling Nam Athletic Association during the cultural program that was participated in by the different Chinese schools in Bacolod.

Meanwhile, Treñas said the Chinese New Year is a very important facet in the life of the Chinese, that is why they started their Chinese New Year four years ago in Ilolilo City. He said Iloilo has a very big Chinese community which has been very helpful to the local government.*CGS

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