Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the staging of the Bacoloadiat Festival, the city’s celebration of the Chinese New Year, makes the people of Bacolod prouder of the city.

“It is a morale booster for all of us. It makes us prouder of our city and makes us involved,” said Leonardia, who led the ceremonial lighting of the Bacolod Government Center on Friday night to officially open the festival’s 14th edition.

Bacolaodiat was coined from the words “Baco” for Bacolod and “Lao Diat,” a Fookien word for celebration. This year’s celebration is set from February 1 to 5.

The Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 5, based on the traditional Chinese calendar, and 2019 will be the year of the Earth Pig.

The Bacolaodiat Festival, a brainchild of Leonardia himself, is being held at the Bacolod Government Center for the first time, and on opening night, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) performed before thousands of Bacolodnons.

Leonardia said the presence of the PPO in Bacolaodiat is most symbolic for the city. “Having the Philharmonic Orchestra here reminds our people that if you look at the orchestra, it is a group of different musicians, different instruments, with different sounds and tempos, and yet because they are united, they have only one purpose. They play beautiful music together,” he said.

The mayor noted that what he wants to see in Bacolod is that while each resident is a different individual with different agenda, interest, and characteristics, still there is harmony and peace among them.

Oddette Ong-Gomez, chair of the 2019 Bacolaodiat Festival, enjoined the people of Bacolod to take part in the festivity.

“The Bacolaodiat, Inc. is happy and proud to present to you the 14th Bacolaodiat Festival. We are equally happy for the strong support of the local government, as well as the cooperation of the Filipino-Chinese community,” she said during the opening program.

“We wish that this Year of the Pig brings good fortune and good health to everyone,” Ong-Gomez added. (PNA)