Talisay City and Moises Padilla town won the top awards for best destination booths in the city and town categories on the theme “Nature, adventure and wellness tourism” at the closing rites of the week-long Panaad sa Negros Festival Saturday.

Gov. Isidro Zayco said the Panaad Festival was a success because all the towns and cities participated in the festivities.

The other best destination booths, city category winners were Cadiz – second, Escalante – third, Silay – fourth, and Bago – fifth, festival executive director Marlin Sanogal said.

In the municipal category, the winners are Murcia – second, Calatrava – third, Pulupandan – fourth, and Don Salvador Benedicto – fifth.

The winners were judged according to level of service of the persons manning the booth, marketing relevance, landscaping, relevance to the theme, design and concept, artwork and creativity, and originality and uniqueness, Provincial Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero said.

“For 2009 we would like to add the cleanest and greenest special award to make Panaad the cleanest festival in the country. A series of workshops will be conducted for the local governments on destination pavilion preparation and all,” she said.

Chairman of this year’s board of judges was Nilo Agustin, a consultant of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and of the Department of Tourism.

Members were tourism officers Norberto Arcangel of Mandaluyong and Roselyn Merlin of Surigao, Peter de Vera of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Joseph Perez of DOT.

Winners in the Best of Festival Dances at the opening rites of the Panaad were the Isabela Kalag-kalag Festival – first, San Carlos Pinta Flores Festival – second and Moises Padilla Hinuptan Festival – third.

Isabela won the first and second place in the IIonggo Pop Songwriting Contest and Escalante City was in third place. Best interpreter was Hyacinth Benignos of Escalante City.

Latin dancesport competition winners were John Ray Alipar and Ma. Lourine Sendico of Cadiz City – first place, Regino Abonyawan and Ashley Nicole Luna of Binalbagan – second and Jenell Tayo and Zillah Amparado of Valladolid – third.

Winners in the folk dance competition, rural category, were Himamaylan City – first, San Enrique – second and EB Magalona – third, while in the Ma. Clara category it was Cadiz – first, Silay – second and Murcia – third.

Drum and bugle competition winners in the secondary level are Bacolod – first, Talisay – second and Pontevedra – third; pop idol contest: La Castellana – first, Bacolod – second and Calatrava – third; Composo: Pulupandan – first, Cadiz – second and Talisay – third.

Zayco said he is thanking all the provincial, city and town officials and their staff who helped make the festival a success, the festival working committees, sponsors, Pagugyon Foundation, and the men in uniform who provided the security.*CPG

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