Statement of Mayor Evelio Leonardia on suspending the BacoLaodiat Festival 2021
It was with mixed feelings when I issued the Executive Order suspending the public celebration of the BacoLaodiat Festival for 2021. When I founded this Bacolod version of the Chinese New Year in 2006, it was meant to honor and manifest the assimilation of the Chinese culture due to the enriching presence of our Fil-Chinese community in our beloved city. It was also conceptualized to become a major tourist attraction and through the years we saw how our people embraced and supported this annual event, making it grow by leaps and bounds beyond our initial expectations. I must confess there is, furthermore, a sentimental angle why I passionately pursued to nurture its development and evolution. It was in 2005 during the wake for my beloved mother, the late Ester Ramos Leonardia, when Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas visited our family that the idea to create a Chinese New Year festival for Bacolod was born. So, on a personal note, I dedicate my work for BacoLaodiat to honor the memory of my loving Nanay. Also, as we commemorate BacoLaodiat this year, we salute our long-time festival chairman, the late Leonito “Diotay” Lopue, for his major contributions to make this tourism and cultural gem what it is today. This should have been another big chance to celebrate and enjoy the gains and the rise of our city. But times are telling us, in the light of the pandemic, we must put the health and safety of our people above any other considerations. I beg the indulgence and cooperation of my beloved people of Bacolod, we must suspend celebrations as they may prejudice our health and safety. Nevertheless, KUNG HEI FAT CHOI and stay safe!
(News & photo courtesy of Bacolod City Public Information Office)