By Mae Singuay

The local government of Bago City in Negros Occidental aims to target an P8 million income for hosting the five-day national folk dance workshop from July 26 to 30.

Mae Ann Furtosa, Bago City senior tourism operations officer, said the city projects to attain the target revenue as this will help its local economy.

She added that by hosting the event, the local government unit wanted to showcase Bago as the house of historical and natural treasures.

The city government has allocated P4 million to host the workshop.

The 41st national folk dance workshop kicked off following a ceremony at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in the locality.

The event was spearheaded by the Philippine Folk Dance Society (PFDS) in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

About 500 participants, composed mostly of teachers and students from public and private schools throughout all regions, participated in the event.

“Today, it is with insurmountable happiness that we are finally back in our in-person workshop after more than three years of hiatus,” PFDS president Randyll Villones said.

He added that they were very excited to see each other’s faces as they shared their learning with both old and new acquaintances.

“Patuloy nating pagyabungin at linangin ang ating kulturang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng ating mga katutubong sayaw,” he cited.

“Labin-isang naggagandahang sayaw na inyong babaunin sa inyong pag-uwi at ituturo sa ating mga estudyante at ibang mag-aaral. Let us not get tired of propagating our dances, especially to the younger generations,” he claimed./MS, WDJ