Bacolod City is preparing for the return of its biggest and most colorful Lunar New Year celebration - the Bacolaodiat Festival - to be held on January 20-22 after its two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, Bacolaodiat Inc. board member Mimi Chua mentioned that the festival will happen at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) grounds and opposite the Upper East township of Megaworld Corp. in the east part of the city.
Last February 2020, the face-to-face festival was held at the same venue and the Lacson Strip, weeks before the implementation of the pandemic lockdown.
According to Chua, the celebration is based on the Chinese calendar and it will be on January 20 this year.
The famous food walk and night market that features Chinese culinary delights and Filipino street food favorites - the Chopsticks Alley - will have its set up at the Upper East for three days.
Bacolaodiat Festival aims to showcase the harmonious merging and co-existence of both Chinese and Filipino cultures, presenting cultural performances, lantern dance parades, dragon and lion dances, Chinese food fests, firework displays, zodiac sign parades, and live bands.
Meanwhile, SM City Bacolod will host the awarding rites and the repeat performance of the lantern street dance competition winners on January 22.
As the festival marks its 18th year, the word Bacolaodiat was derived from two words "Baco" for Bacolod and "Lao Diat" from a Fookien word which means celebration.
On the Chinese zodiac, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit which symbolizes a tame creature representing hope and life.
