Festival winners

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  — The 18th Panaad sa Negros Festival---with the theme 'Patubas sang Negrosanon, Manggad sang Nasyon" showcases the best of 13 cities and 19 towns in terms of history, arts and culture, tourism, commerce, trade and industry as well as products, sports, talents and skills. 

Dubbed the "Festival of all Festivals," the Panaad celebration, from April 4 to 9, also has a competition of festivals of each LGU in Negros Occidental for the 2011 Best in Festival Dance title.

Other contests lined up for the week are Pop Music Festival, Negrense/Ilonggo Folk Dance, Pop Songwriting, Latin Dance Competition, Drum and Bugle Competition, and Composo, among others.

The winners are: Best in Festival Dance

La Castellana town's Bailes de Luces won the 2011 Best in Festival Dance title, and the P70,000 top prize.

Panaad committee chairman Rudy Reveche said Isabela town's Kalag-kalag Festival finished second place to get P50,000 cash prize, while San Carlos City's Pintaflores Festival won third place and the P30,000 prize.

Composo, Pop Songwriting

A participant from Isabela won the grand prize of the Composo competition, while a participant from Silay City was the grand winner in the Pop Songwriting competition Tuesday night.

Provincial information officer Karen Dinsay said Andrew Dumaop of Isabela won P15,000 for topping the Composo, Emmanuel Rodriguez of Silay City won P10,000 for second place, and Neptali Narvasa of Escalante City won P7,000 for third place.

Dumaop was also chosen Best Interpreter, while Rojie Bacosa also of Isabela was Best Composer, she said. Participants from Cadiz City, San Enrique, Pulupandan, Kabankalan City, and Talisay City won P2,000 each for consolation prizes.

In the Pop Songwriting competition, Armin Paredes of Silay City was the grand prize winner for his entry "Panaad Ko," Glenn Salve of Bacolod landed second place for his "Musikang Negrosanon;" and Alberto Roy David of Himamaylan City was at third for his "Panaad Na."

Paredes won P20,000, Salve-P15,000 and David -P10,000. Charles Kevin Tan of Silay City was adjudged Best Interpreter.

Panaad Float competition

The floats of Sagay City and San Enrique town were adjudged the Best Floats in the city and municipality categories, respectively.

Dinsay said special awards were also given to Sagay City for the Most Festive Float, San Enrique for the Best in Concept Design, and Negros Navigation/SuperFerry for the Best Corporate Float.

Sagay City got P20,000 for the grand plum and another P10,000 for the special award, San Enrique received P20,000 and another P10,000 for the special award, while Negros Navigation/Superferry had a trophy, she said.

A total of 13 towns, eight cities and six private companies participated in the floats competition held during the opening salvo of the Panaad Festival.

Drum and Bugle contest

The town of San Enrique, represented by Our Lady of Purity Academy, won first place in the Drum and Bugle Competition Wednesday and took home P50,000 cash.

Binalbagan placed second and P40,000 cash prize while Escalante City settled for third and the P30,000 prize.

Today, Friday, Globe will have a concert at the Panaad Park Stage at 7 p.m. while the Lin-ay sang Negros 2011 grand coronation night will be held an hour later at the Panaad Stadium.

Tomorrow Saturday, the Negros Press Club will have a Media Night, while ABS-CBN Bacolod will have a Kapamilya Fiesta Caravan and Fireworks Competition at the Panaad Stadium starting 9 p.m.  (FREEMAN)