BacoLaodiat bash

Bacolod’s downtown Tsinoy community went all out for this year’s celebration of the Chinese New Year!  The day before the Lunar New Year, I was busy helping raise the Vietnamese lanterns I bought in the UNESCO heritage site of Ho for Sterling Bank of Asia, whose officials Stephen Abao Jr. and Mymy Suajico got all excited upon seeing the colorful silk lanterns. Teddy Lopez, Darlene Pama, and Issah Hormillosa immediately called the electrician and bought all the necessary wires and gizmos to install the lights.  Shapely bank tellers Angie Padilla and Janna Barrera couldn’t help themselves but gush over their cheongsams and wondering who had the most daring side slits. We ended way past dinner time, enchanted by the sight of the lanterns strung from the gate of the bank twinkling its way to the entrance.

I woke up next day to the sounds of firecrackers exploding.  Gongs and drums announced the entrance of the Lion dance.  This year, the Amity dancers outdid themselves with a new routine that had the energetic Lion jumping up on its hind legs like a circus horse, doing cute antics like leaning on the teller’s counter, chasing its tail like a dog and going to every nook and cranny of the bank chasing the ever elusive boy holding the lantern.  The ladies squealed as the boy took off his mask—the poor dear had to endure pinches on his rosy cheek and gamely posed with everyone who wanted to have a photo with him, yes, he was that cute!  Award winning artist Charlie Co deserves praise for the impressive animal lanterns representing each year of the Chinese horoscope.   It was a spectacle that I will remember long after this year’s successful Bacolaudiat. 

EVENTS

Tonight starting 9 p.m., chill out to the voice of Michelle Gallaga at Majj Bistro for an “Acoustic Night”. 

Celebrate the LEAP YEAR with a night of fine, relaxing and cool music, with the best of Philippine jazz.  A cocktail-concert event, dubbed as, “Take a Leap”, featuring jazz artists’ extraordinaire Richard Merk, considered to be the country’s most versatile singer and his beauty queen sister (Bb. Pilipinas at age 16) Rachel Anne Wolfe who just released her own album, “Cool” will be at Sugarland Hotel’s Ballroom 7:30 p.m.  Saturday.  Proceeds will be for the Negros Cultural Foundation, the Negros Museum and the Balay Negrense. 

MY PRAYER

I thank You, Lord for moments I can meet with Thee to meditate and pray.*