Mayor draws comparisons to New York City, Rio de Janeiro

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia offered his appreciation for the spectators who visited the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) during the New Year’s countdown, despite the rain, where he discussed his dream of one day having “millions” viewing the countdown at the BCGC, likening it to the Copacabana Beach celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, considered one of the world’s largest, which saw around 2.4 million gathered to ring in 2018.

“In spite of the bad weather, in spite of the rains, I was surprised that thousands still came to watch,” he said. “I am dreaming of the day that there will be a million people also watching the countdown at the Bacolod City Government Center.”

“In Copacabana, in Brazil, two to three million people attend their Countdown,” he added.

Events began on New Year’s Eve, with live bands and raffles.

The mayor said he wants to make the celebration an annual event, comparing it to the New York City festivities.

“Bacolod will probably be the first in the Philippines to institutionalize this,” Leonardia noted. “We would like to develop this, similar to how the New York Countdown had developed.”

Leading the countdown were Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, City Administrator John Orola, Barangay 13 Captain Tanya Familiaran, Barangay Vista Alegre Captain Jose Ma. Leandro De Leon, and Panasiatic Bacolod site director and General Manager Siony Hijara- Ferraris./WDJ