DILG, DOT undersecretaries expected for Panaad Festival opening

Posted by watchmen
April 22, 2017
Posted in HEADLINE

By Paulo Loreto Lim

The 24th Panaad sa Negros Festival is set to open today, April 22, with Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Silvino Tejada and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo, Jr. expected at the opening ceremonies, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Panaad Stadium, as guests of honor.
Also expected to deliver addresses during the opening rites are Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., who will officially declare the festival open.
A raising of the banners ceremony will also take place, to be participated by mayors and representatives of various cities and municipalities throughout the province. Also taking part in the ceremony will be Panaad Executive Director, Dr. Ma. Lina Sanogal, who will raise the Panaad banner; and Provincial Board Member Victor Javellana, who will raise the provincial banner.
The day’s events will begin with a Thanksgiving Mass at 8:00 a.m., followed by a parade of lechon, the “Lechonaad,” at the PVO Activity Area.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies will commence at 9:00 a.m. for an array of festival features including Panaad Tourism, the Organik na Negros Agri-Fest & Agri-Clinic, the Livestock & Dairy Fair, the Negros Island Photo Exhibit & Festival Costume Display, among others.
That evening, beginning at 8:00 p.m., RMN’s Panaad Hip-Hop Challenge takes place at the Park Stage, while the GMA Network hosts Kapuso Night at the Panaad Stadium, featuring some of the TV network’s stars.
On Friday, April 28, one of the festival’s highlights, the Lin-ay sang Negros pageant, takes place at the Panaad Stadium. It was previously reported, the governor confirmed Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara would be present during coronation night.
Amid the issues currently surrounding the sugar industry, Marañon also earlier announced Coca-Cola would be banned from the festival, a move mimicked by local leaders in Hinigaran and Isabela.
Also, representatives from Moises Padilla recently announced their town would not be participating in this year’s festivities. According to Sanogal, “It’s hard to speculate as to their reason.”
She noted, “Moises Padilla is currently one of the poorest local government units in the province.”
The festival is set to run until Sunday, April 30./WDJ

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