Bacolod renews ties with South Korean city

BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod has strengthened its sister city ties with Seogu District, Daegu Metropolitan City of South Korea to pave the way for exchanges in the fields of tourism, culture, and trade.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia together with Councilors Em Ang and Cindy Rojas visited Daegu last week upon the invitation of the Federation of Art and Culture Organization.

“Seogu is one of the eight districts of Daegu, the fourth largest city in South Korea. We were trying to renew our sister city agreement with Seogu District,” Ang said in a press briefing held at the City Mayor’s Office on Wednesday afternoon.

Bacolod City Councilors Em Ang (left) and Cindy Rojas give updates on their recent visit to Daegu Metropolitan City in South Korea to strengthen sister city ties with the Seogu District, in a press conference at the City Mayor’s Office on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 13, 2019). *Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

She said they met with former District Mayor Kang Seong-Ho, the signatory of the sister city agreement entered between Bacolod and Seogu in 2013, for exploratory talks on areas the two cities can collaborate.

Ang, who chairs the City Council’s committee on tourism, pointed out that Daegu has a lot of similarities to Bacolod such as big festivals closely tied to their economy.

“The biggest festival is the colorful Daegu Festival held every month of May and it is like our very own MassKara Festival. They also have Chemeck Festival, which is a chicken and beer festival. It is held every July. It is like our Inasal Festival,” she said.

Ang said that during their meeting with the former Mayor Kang, they discussed the possibility of the two cities engaging in cultural exchanges focusing on their festivals.
“They want to send to Bacolod their performers and at the same time, invited the MassKara dancers to come to their place,” she added.

Rojas said their trip was an educational tour and a benchmarking activity in the areas of tourism, culture, and trade.

She noted that she got interested in an art strip where a blank wall was made available for murals, which could also be done in Bacolod.

“It’s a row of walls which they dedicate to famous South Korean folk singer Kim Kwang-seok, like the Philippines’ Freddie Aguilar. We have areas in Bacolod which we can transform into this. We have so many gifted artists here,” Rojas said.

Moreover, Ang said they also see an opportunity for start-up companies in Bacolod to collaborate with companies in Daegu whose main industries are technology and automotive parts. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061889

NegOcc state college poised to become university soon

BACOLOD CITY — The Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) in Negros Occidental is expected to become a university soon after the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill for its status conversion.

House Bill 8732 seeks to convert the CHMSC, with a main campus in Talisay City and satellite campuses in Bacolod City and Binalbagan town, into a state university.

Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, one of the main authors of the bill, said on Wednesday that after the Senate’s approval on Monday, the proposed law will be forwarded to the Office of the President for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) main campus in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

Gasataya added that once it will obtain a university status, the CHMSC will be able to establish more facilities and offer additional academic programs.

Among the co-authors of the House Bill 8732 are (3rd District) Rep. Alfredo Benitez and (5th District) Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, whose jurisdictions include Talisay City and Binalbagan town, respectively.

CHMSC has almost 10,000 students in its four campuses, including the main college in Talisay City in northern Negros as well as the two in Bacolod City situated in Alijis and Fortune Towne, and another in Binalbagan in southern Negros.

Dr. Renato Sorolla, president of CHMSC, said in an interview last week he is optimistic that they will obtain the university status within the year.

“We are nearer to the goal. We still need to submit more documents to comply with the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education,” he said.

Sorolla said that becoming a state university is not just an aspiration for the CHMSC, but also an opportunity for them to become more responsive to the community that it serves and uplift the quality of services they deliver as an educational institution.

“It will change the budget because the emphasis of the university is more on the generation of new knowledge. With that, we will invest much on the improvement of our research facilities,” he added.

Currently, CHMSC offers academic programs under the College of Education, College of Industrial Technology, and School of Arts and Sciences (all in Talisay City), College of Business Management and Accountancy (Fortune Towne), Institute of Information Technology (Alijis), and College of Fisheries and Criminology (Binalbagan). (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061137

Bacolod mayor’s party to form alliance with Hugpong ng Pagbabago

BACOLOD CITY — Grupo Progreso (GP), the political party of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, will form an alliance with the Davao-based regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

Leonardia announced this Tuesday night after his re-election bid was endorsed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, chairperson of HNP, during their meeting at the Davao City Hall on Sunday, February 3.

It’s a “big-time endorsement”, a GP statement said.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio endorses the reelection bid of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the latter’s courtesy call at the Davao City Hall on Feb. 3, 2019 *Contributed photo*

Duterte-Carpio raised Leonardia’s hand during his courtesy call and was witnessed by National Youth Commission chairman Ronald Cardema, as well as Sangguniang Kabataan officials from Cainta, Taytay, and Butuan and other guests.

Leonardia flew to Davao City to attend the two-day “Rehabinasyon: The 1st National Anti-Drugs Summit” organized by the Inter-Agency Committee Against Illegal Drugs (ICAD) on February 3 and 4.

He said the coalition between the Grupo Progreso and the HNP will be formalized in another meeting in Bacolod during the campaign period for the May 13 elections.

Leonardia added that he assured the Davao City mayor of the full support of Grupo Progreso for the senatorial candidates endorsed by HNP.

The HNP is also expected to support the reelection bids of Leonardia’s partymates Congressman Greg Gasataya and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and the Grupo Progreso’s 12 candidates for councilor.

Last October, Mayor Sara visited Bacolod during the highlights of the MassKara Festival and witnessed the schools’ street dance competition at the Bacolod Plaza.

She also took the opportunity to thank the people of Bacolod for supporting the administration of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte. (PNA)

Bacolod City renews support for ‘Rehabinasyon’

BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bacolod has renewed its commitment in supporting the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs through its participation in the two-day “Rehabinasyon: The 1st National Anti-Drugs Summit” at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who is among the select mayors attending the event until January 4, said the summit is a rare opportunity that provides Bacolod with a holistic picture of the drug rehabilitation program of the administration.

“The leading anti-illegal drugs agencies have organized this to make a more comprehensive approach in their intention to rehabilitate and reintegrate the victims back to society,” said the mayor, who was joined in the summit by executive assistant Samuel Montoyo, the city’s focal person on the anti-drug abuse campaign.

In March last year, Bacolod hosted the launching of “Rehabinasyon,” a holistic approach in eliminating the country’s drugs problem that puts premium on the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers, which was attended by about 400 people.

Bacolod then was one of the first key cities selected by the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs to launch the program.

The summit in Davao is attended by top officials of the Duterte administration and is showcasing #RealNumbers, #RealSolutions, and #RealStories.

Ramon Cualoping III, assistant secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office and chief brand integrator of Rehabinasyon, said the summit aims to provide a review of the government’s achievements for the past two years in solving the country’s drug problem.

He encouraged the stakeholders to continue supporting the campaign saying that Rehabinasyon is “an investment for the future.”

In Bacolod, the campaign against illegal drugs also includes the construction of a PHP35-million drug rehabilitation center in Barangay Alijis. The PHP10-million fund was granted by the Dangerous Drugs Board while the remaining PHP25-million will be shouldered by the city government.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has also selected Bacolod to be the site of the pilot center of “Balay Silangan” for the Visayas.

In July 2017, Bacolod was also the venue of the Philippine celebration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking joined by about 17,000 participants. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060910

PH Philharmonic Orchestra belongs to the people: CCP head

BACOLOD CITY — The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) reaches out to the Filipino audience by bringing music across the country through the outreach concerts of the Philippine PhilHarmonic Orchestra (PPO).

“It’s a two-way zone. We bring people to the center and since we know not all of them can go to the center, we bring the center to the people. That’s why we’re here,” CCP president Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso said.

Lizaso introduced the country’s leading symphony orchestra, a resident company of the CCP, during their two-night concert in the city on Thursday and Friday.

Cultural Center of the Philippines president Arsenio ‘Nick’ Lizaso speaks before the crowd at at the Bacolod Government Center grounds, where the Philippine PhilHarmonic Orchestra performed during the opening of the 2019 Bacolaodiat Festival on Friday night (Feb.1, 2019) *Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO*

On Thursday, the PPO performed at the SMX Convention Center and on Friday, the orchestra was featured during the opening night of the 2019 Bacolaodiat Festival at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) grounds.

“The mandate of the CCP is to preserve and promote art in all regions of the country, and this is the reason why we are here tonight. The orchestra belongs to you. We are only the caretaker. We take care of them for you. This is why we bring the music of the PPO to you and to every city and region that we go to,” Lizaso said in his message before the crowd at the BGC on Friday.

“This is our mandate — to bring our music to the people,” he added.

The PPO’s outreach program primarily aims to “promote music appreciation in underserved communities in the different regions in the country.”

The PPO, under the baton of conductors Yoshikazu Fukumura and Herminigildo Ranera, is celebrating its 45th anniversary, which coincides with the orchestra’s 36th Concert Season.

Lizaso said that during the PPO’s concert in Iloilo City last year, Mayor Evelio Leonardia approached him and asked if the CCP can also bring the orchestra to Bacolod.

“Swiftly, I said yes. From thereon, we had a series of meetings and here we are in Bacolod,” he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060838

Bacolaodiat Fest ‘makes us prouder’ of Bacolod City: mayor

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the staging of the Bacoloadiat Festival, the city’s celebration of the Chinese New Year, makes the people of Bacolod prouder of the city.

“It is a morale booster for all of us. It makes us prouder of our city and makes us involved,” said Leonardia, who led the ceremonial lighting of the Bacolod Government Center on Friday night to officially open the festival’s 14th edition.

Bacolaodiat was coined from the words “Baco” for Bacolod and “Lao Diat,” a Fookien word for celebration. This year’s celebration is set from February 1 to 5.

. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (2^nd from right), with Councilor Em Ang (2^nd from left), and 2019 Bacolaodiat Festival chair Oddette Ong-Gomez (right), leads the ceremonial lighting of the Bacolod Government Center to officially open the 14th edition of the Bacolaodiat Festival on Friday night (Feb. 1, 2019).
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

The Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 5, based on the traditional Chinese calendar, and 2019 will be the year of the Earth Pig.

The Bacolaodiat Festival, a brainchild of Leonardia himself, is being held at the Bacolod Government Center for the first time, and on opening night, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) performed before thousands of Bacolodnons.

“Probably, this is the grandest opening ever. Just the mere presence of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is something that makes this a cut above the rest,” the mayor said.

Leonardia said the presence of the PPO in Bacolaodiat is most symbolic for the city. “Having the Philharmonic Orchestra here reminds our people that if you look at the orchestra, it is a group of different musicians, different instruments, with different sounds and tempos, and yet because they are united, they have only one purpose. They play beautiful music together,” he said.

The mayor noted that what he wants to see in Bacolod is that while each resident is a different individual with different agenda, interest, and characteristics, still there is harmony and peace among them.

“If we can only join our hands together, if we can be like the Philharmonic, this city will move and accelerate to its highest heights,” he said.

Oddette Ong-Gomez, chair of the 2019 Bacolaodiat Festival, enjoined the people of Bacolod to take part in the festivity.

“The Bacolaodiat, Inc. is happy and proud to present to you the 14th Bacolaodiat Festival. We are equally happy for the strong support of the local government, as well as the cooperation of the Filipino-Chinese community,” she said during the opening program that followed the motorcade on Friday afternoon.

“We wish that this Year of the Pig brings good fortune and good health to everyone,” Ong-Gomez added.

The festival also features the Imperial Village, which is hosting various food stalls serving some Chinese cuisine, inasal, and lechon, as well as cooking demos and Asian arts and crafts.

On Saturday, the annual cultural show will be held at 6 p.m. to be followed by the performance of Manila-based Hokkien-style Chinese opera, Kao Ka, and the Lantern Dance Competition.

On Sunday, the Bacolaodiat Street Dance Competition will start at 3 p.m., while the Parade of Mascots, at 4 p.m.

At 4:30 p.m., the Lantern Dance Competition will move to the Goldenfield Commercial Complex. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060832

NegOcc, Bacolod visitors boost Region 6 tourist arrivals in 2018

BACOLOD CITY — Visitors in Negros Occidental, including its capital Bacolod City, have boosted tourist arrivals in Western Visayas (Region 6), amid the six-month closure of Boracay Island in Aklan last year.

Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 Director Helen Catalbas said Thursday they have yet to release the final figures, but initial records showed the combined tourist arrivals of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City would surpass Aklan’s for 2018.

A decline of about one million tourists is expected in the region’s top island-destination due to the government’s rehabilitation efforts.

“We can no longer bring back the losses in tourist arrivals of Boracay,” said Catalbas, who was among the officials who attended the Negros First Transformative Agriculture Summit in Talisay City.

She said the slump in the tourist arrivals of Boracay Island does not necessarily mean that figures for the whole region will also decline.

In 2017, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City posted the second highest number of tourists in Western Visayas.

Based on DOT-6 figures, 5.85 million tourists visited the region in 2017, and Negros Occidental and Bacolod City’s combined tourist arrivals of 1.72 million accounted for 29 percent.

Negros Occidental alone had 892,199 arrivals, including 856,511 domestic visitors and 35,688 foreign tourists.

Bacolod registered 831,687 tourists, of whom 756,835 were domestic and 74,852 foreign guests.

Also in 2017, Aklan, which hosts Boracay Island, remained the region’s top tourist destination with about 2.22 million arrivals or 38 percent.

Iloilo province, including its capital Iloilo City, ranked third with almost 1.39 million visitors or 23 percent.

Capiz came in fourth with 229,195 tourists followed by Antique and Guimaras with 162,925 and 128,256, respectively.

Aklan is expected to recover this year, given its newly-rehabilitated island-destination considered to be more attractive to tourists. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060724

New Bacolod growth center seen on 8.8-hectare donated land

BACOLOD CITY — A new growth area is seen to rise in the southern part of Bacolod with the proposed developments on an 8.8-hectare property donated by the Yanson family to the city government.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Tuesday afternoon that he has signed the two contracts of donation for the parcels of land that will be the future site of the city’s southbound terminal, as well as a coliseum and a museum.

“I have already signed the documents and these have been submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for ratification,” he added.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (left) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran discuss the latest developments in the city’s proposed programs and projects in a press briefing at the Government Center on Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 29, 2019).
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

The City Council, which last week granted authority to the mayor to sign the deeds of donation, is expected to ratify the contracts during the regular session on Wednesday.

“In this deal, we earned a big-time property. This is really advantageous to Bacolod. There is no doubt about it,” the mayor said, adding that the city has scored a “grand slam” in obtaining the donated land.

The Yanson Reality Development Corp. and the Vallacar Transit Inc. are identified as the donors of the adjacent properties worth at least PHP440 million located in Barangay Alijis.

Of the total 8.8 hectares, the larger portion of 7.3 hectares will be used for the coliseum and museum while the 1.5 hectares will be utilized for the south terminal.

“At this age and time, to get eight hectares is hard to comprehend. We should be thankful. We should be happy,” the mayor said.

Leonardia pointed out that the rise of the Bacolod City Government Center, also on a donated property in the eastern part of the city, has set an example of the economic growth that happened in what used to be an undeveloped part of Bacolod.

“It was difficult for us to sell the idea in the past because they have not seen yet what happened to the Government Center. I assure you what happened here in the Government Center will also happen, or even faster or better, (in the Yanson property). The area is larger and the investment will be bigger,” the mayor said.

Leonardia enjoined Bacolodnons to be excited in looking forward to the future of the city.

“We have to sustain the growth and development of Bacolod. This program will definitely accelerate things for us in Bacolod,” the mayor added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060471

Security preps up for 5-day Bacolaodiat Festival

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will deploy at least 1,400 police personnel and force multipliers to secure the Bacolaodiat Festival, this city’s celebration of Chinese New Year, from February 1 to 5.

This year’s main festival site, the Bacolod City Government Center grounds, will be provided round-the-clock security during the five-day festivities.

Chief Insp. Lester Leada, acting head of BCPO’s Operations Unit, said in a press briefing on Friday the police aim for zero major incident and reduce the occurrence of the eight focus crimes by 30 percent.

**SECURITY PLAN.** Chief Inspector Lester Leada, acting head of Bacolod City Police Office Operations Unit, presents the security plan during the 1^st Inter-Agency Coordinating Conference on Security Preparations for Bacolaodiat 2019 held at the BCPO Patnubay Hall on Friday (Jan. 25, 2019).
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

“We also want to reduce the fear of crime and increase the level of confidence of stakeholders during the staging of the festival,” Leada added.

Last year, between 50,000 and 70,000 revelers attended the Bacolaodiat staged in two festival sites, police data showed.

Leada said the security forces will include about 1,000 police personnel, including the BCPO’s own 600 policemen and about 400 augmentation from Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas).

The remaining 400 personnel will comprise volunteers from rescue units and anti-crime groups, he added.

Before the press conference, Leada presented the security plan for this year’s festival during the 1st Inter-Agency Coordinating Conference on Security Preparation for Bacolaodiat 2019, held at the BCPO Patnubay Hall. It was attended by police station chiefs and representatives of various law enforcement agencies.

On February 1, the festival will kick off at 4 p.m. with the Dazzling Grand Motorcade from Lacson St., passing by the Bacolod Public Plaza before proceeding to the Bacolod City Government Center.

It will be followed by the opening of the Imperial Village and ceremonial lighting of the Government Center.

At 6 p.m., the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will hold an open-air concert.

The opening night will be capped by the Symphony Lights and Sparks fireworks display and the Lunar Music Festival.

One of the festival highlights, the Bacolaodiat Street Dance Competition, will be held at the Goldenfield Commercial Complex starting 4:30 p.m. on February 3. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060064

Pacquiao still in top form at 40: Bacolod mayor

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Evelio Leonardia, flag-bearer of Team Pacquiao, said Filipino boxing icon, Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, is still at his peak at 40 years old.

The chief executive here, who waved the Philippine flag inside the ring before the bout in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, said Pacquiao, in defending his World Boxing Association welterweight title against American Adrien Broner, showed the same form he had at the prime of his boxing career.

“Life begins at 40. This is what Senator Pacquiao has just proven in Las Vegas. He did not only beat Broner, but he also beat Father Time,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Some 5,000 residents of Bacolod City watching the free live broadcast of the Pacquiao-Broner fight at the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center celebrate after Senator Manny Pacquiao defended his World Boxing Association welterweight title against American Adrien Broner on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019.
*Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO*

Leonardia added that it was “amazing to watch a 40-year-old boxer still with so much speed and power.”

“While other boxers see their careers decline upon reaching the 30s, Manny is even still peaking,” he further said.

Leonardia, who first carried Pacquiao’s belt in 2005, and who has been carrying the Philippine flag inside the ring since 2006, said that after the only eight-division world boxing champion’s latest triumph, “the Manny Pacquiao mystique goes on.”

“And it looks like it will still be a long, long time that he’ll rule the fascination and adoration of the Filipinos,” he added.

The mayor said Pacquiao, an adopted son of Bacolod City, once again brought all the Filipinos together as one to cheer the flag and the Philippines.

Here in Bacolod, about 20,000 people flocked to the eight free live viewing venues set up by the city government, including the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center where 5,000 people gathered.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. also lauded Pacquiao’s win against Broner.

“Our boxing hero’s latest triumph will certainly inspire many young athletes who dream big,” the governor said in a statement.

He added that Pacquiao “again showed the world that with long years of championship experience and hard work, one would be able to overcome any challenge in the ring.” (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059510