Despite the heavy downpour, Negros Occidental’s Panaad Festival 2008 opened Saturday at the Panaad Sports Complex in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, with the dancing skeletons of Isabela’s “Kalag-Kalag” festival winning the fiesta presentation competition.

Isabela’s “Kalag-Kalag” performers bested 18 other groups in the fiesta presentation contest, which earned the town the P50,000 top prize.

Second to Isabela was San Carlos City’s “Pinta Flores” while Moises Padilla’s “Hinuptanan” was third. San Carlos received P30,000 and Moises Padilla, P20,000.

Also well-applauded performances were those of Pulupandan’s “Salaban” dancers, who presented the rich Marine Resources of the town dancing to “Showtime”, and Sagay City’s presentation of the conflict among sea creatures that inhabit the seas.

Rudy Reveche, fiesta presentation coordinator, said they decided to put up a stage in front of the stadium instead of having the traditional field performance, to bring the dancers closer to the judges and spectators in the bleachers.

Members of the panel of judgers were: Shirley Halili-Cruz, Noel Garovillo, Larry Gabao, Franco Velas, and Peter de Vera of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Among those present at the affair were Gov. Isidro Zayco, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri who was the guest of honor, and the congressmen and mayors of Negros Occidental.

Zayco, who led the opening rites, said this year’s celebration is a tribute to the late governor Joseph Marañon.

Stressing to the crowd that he was “a Negrense first before becoming a son of Mindanao”, Zubiri said he will continue to find alternatives that will revive the sugar industry as it remains as main source of livelihood for Negrosanons.

Making the development of Negros and the progress of its towns and cities as one of his priorities, the senator said he will give his 100 percent support in the Senate to the province’s various programs and projects.

Adding color to the opening of the festival was the presentation of the 24 candidates of Lin-ay Sang Negros and players from Philippine Basketball Association who are also in the city for their All-Star Weekend extravaganza.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Bacolod City is the main beneficiary of the festival.

The arrival of local and foreign tourists in Bacolod who want to experience the weeklong festivities can spur business activities in the city, Leonardia said.*NAB

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