BacoLaodiat Fest ushers Chinese New Year starting Feb. 5

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — This city will celebrate the Chinese New Year (on February 8) with a four-day BacoLaodiat Festival starting today.

BacoLaodiat is coined from the words “Baco” for Bacolod, and “Lao Diat,” a Chinese phrase for celebration.

This is now the 11th year of the BacoLaodiat, started in 2006, which is jointly held by the city government and the Chinese community in Bacolod.

This year’s celebration will kick-off with a Dazzling Grand Parade featuring 12 zodiac floats, opening of the Chopsticks Alley and Imperial Village, followed by the Lantern Street Dance Competition among eight groups, the lighting of the Chinese Lanterns, and the Cultural Show participated in by Chinese schools—Trinity Christian School, St. John’s Institute, and Catholic Ming Yuan College.

The Visayan Maritime Academy will have a cooking demo at 5 p.m. and then the Symphony of Lights and Sparks, a spectacular fireworks display accompanied by official BacoLaodiat music to cap the first night of the festival.  (FREEMAN)