It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas right in the heart of the City of Smiles starting tonight.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia will lead local government executives during the 6:00 p.m. lights-on ceremony at the Bacolod Public Plaza, where the iconic bandstand transforms into a “Lights Castle” and the symbolic Diamond Jubilee Tower facing Araneta Street becomes the “Tower of Lights.”
About 95,000 Christmas lights will clothe the bandstand, the Jubilee Tower or the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) replica and some trees around the plaza for the holidays, Executive Assistant Sandra Sycip said.
Leonardia thanked Dr. Andrew Tan and his corporate executives for their generosity and for their love for Bacolod.
Tan, head honcho of the Alliance Global Group, Inc. that includes real property developer Megaworld Corporation and Emperador Distillers, Inc., gifted Bacolodnons with Christmas lights and decorations at the BCGC and the public plaza.
The mayor also expressed confidence that with continued public-private partnership, Bacolod’s economic progress will soar to greater levels in the coming years.
“We were able to keep a dynamic local economy despite the many challenges during the last two years. With our resilience and strong resolve, things could only get better and the future a lot brighter under the new normal,” he said.
Moreover, visitors will be greeted by the 40-foot (12.19-m) “Tunnel of Lights” from the Gatuslao Street side as they enter the plaza area to make for an exciting photo opportunity experience inside the passageway that will be accented with multi-colored neon and led string lights, Sycip said.
The mounting of the Christmas lights at the plaza, site of many historical events and also served as the venue for arena performances of the world-renowned annual MassKara Festival dance competitions, was mainly sponsored by Emperador Distillers, Inc.
The holding company of Dr. Andrew Tan, an adopted son of the city and named as Bacolod’s honorary mayor, was also responsible for lighting the BCGC or New Government Center, last November 29 to usher in the holiday season.
Bacolodnons witnessed the transformation of the BCGC that was illuminated with 18,360 Christmas lights late last month by Megaworld Corporation.
The lights and decorations at the BCGC and the public plaza will keep the city’s spirits high amid the difficult times,” Sycip added.
Emperador Distillers will also set up a corporate booth at the plaza for sampling of its latest flagship brand Coffee Brandy.
The Christmas lights and plaza decors will remain until after the celebration of the Chinese New Year or the Bacolaodiat in early February 2022 while the lights at the Jubilee Tower will stay year-round./WDJ