The highly urbanized Bacolod City is gearing up for the staging of the 20th year of the Bacolaodiat Festival, one of the country’s largest Chinese New Year celebrations, from January 31 to February 2.

This year’s festivity will be held along 6th to 13th-Lacson Streets, with the main festival site still at North Capitol Road.

In a statement yesterday, Bacolaodiat Festival chairperson John Stephen Sy said the organizers are coordinating with concerned national government agencies, volunteer organizations and city government offices as part of the preparations.

“Collaboration is important to achieve our shared vision. We aim to have a safer and more successful celebration of the Bacolaodiat Festival this 2025,” he added.

Traditional events include cultural performances, lantern street and arena dance competitions, and Asian food crawl, along with other promising experiences for the locals and tourists.

The Bacolaodiat 2025 ushers in the Year of the Snake, which is a symbol of wisdom, transformation and renewal, and is also associated with good luck, prosperity, fertility and longevity.

The festival’s name came from the words “Baco” for Bacolod and “Lao Diat,” a Fookien word for celebration, highlighting the strong connection between the city and the local Filipino-Chinese community. (PNA)