JOBapalooza Jobs Fair

In celebration of the Labor Day, the Deaprtment of Labor and Employment with partner agencies will be having a jobs fair tomorrow simultaneously in different key cities in the country dubbed “Tayo Na! Trabaho Na! JOBapalooza ‘09”

In Bacolod City, the JOBapalooza will be held at SM City, Gaisano City and Robinsons Mall.

JOBapalooza is open to all jobseekers. Applicants are advised to bring detailed resumes, school records, their passports, if they have one, and other importance credentials.

Partner agencies PAG-IBIG, SSS TESDA and Philhealth will also be having a service fair during the celebration.

Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009 Winners

It was 16-year old Lin-ay Sang Talisay Vickie Marie Milagrosa Rushton who was crowned Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009 last April 24, besting 23 other beauty contestants.

A crowd favorite, Rushton also took home the Best in Swimsuit and Evening Gown awards and was chosen as Miss Globe, Miss Watsons and Miss Circulan.

First Runner-Up was Ciara Mae Pirote of Himamaylan who was also the Muse of the Media while Second Runner-Up was  Rajevie Ravindrakumar of Escalante City.

Lin-ay Sang Negros is one of the highlights of the Panaad Sa Negros Festival. In addition to the Panaad Festival Dance Competition, it’s another crowd drawer. It’s one of the bigger pageants in the country since prizes in cash and sponsorships can exceed P1 million.

Rushton took home P100,000 and one year full scholarship,  Pirote received P60,000 and 75% scholarship grant  while  Ravindrakumar received P30,000 and 50% scholarship grant.

When asked what her mother was right about during the interview, Ms. Rushton candidly answered that everything her mother says she must obey because it’s for her and her future. She must have made her mother very proud.

Here’s a video of the Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009 Pageant Night.

Panaad Sa Negros Festival Costume Exhibit

The colorful costumes of the different festivals in Negros Occidental were exhibited during the Panaad Sa Negros 2009 as a showcase of Negrense creativity. These costumes were chosen as Best Festival Costumes from their respective festivals.

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Panaad Sa Negros 2009 Festival Dance Competition

One of the reasons why Panaad Sa Negros is touted as the Festival of all Festivals is because the different Festivals of Negros Occidental competes against each other as the Best of Festivals.

A huge 15,000 crowd came to witness the performances of the 23 competing festivals and one guest performer during the Panaad 2009 Opening last April 18. Masskara Festival of Bacolod City performed as a non-competing festival.

Bailes de Luces of the Municipality of La Castellana emerged as this year’s Best Festival. Bailes de Luces or “dances of lights” is celebrated every December where dancers make use of colorful lights in their costumes.

Second Place was the Kalag-Kalag Festival of the Municipality of Isabela celebrated every All Souls Day. Kalag-Kalag Festival is unique since unlike most festivals which is celebrated in a pageantry of colorful costumes and festive mood, Kalag-Kalag features characters associated with Halloween.

The colorful Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City bagged the third place. Pintaflores is celebrated every November 5 as the culmination of the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo, the city’s patron saint.

Watch this short video of the Panaad sa Negros Festival Dance Competition. Not all competing festivals are featured here but at least those who were not able to watch it will have an idea of how the dancers performed despite of the rain.

Durano: Panaad is the First Provincial Expo

In his speech during the opening ceremonies of the Panaad sa Negros 2009, Secretary Ace Durano of the Department of Tourism said that Panaad sa Negros Festival is the first and Provincial Exposition in the country.

Speaking in front of thousands of Negrenses and guests, Secretary Durano said the Panaad sa Negros Festival showcases all the best of the different municipalities and cities of the province. He said, after 16 years, there has been a lot of improvement in the festival. Secretary Durao said the Department of Tourism will continue to support the Panaad Festival.

The Panaad sa Negros Festival was chosen as the Best Tourism Event of 2008 in the Provincial Category by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).

He also acknowledged another best product of Negros Occidental, the Mambukal Mountain Resort which continue to draw thousands of local and foreign tourists.

He said the DOT is currently working with Team Everest to develop Mt. Kanlaon as a destination for mountaineers. As the highest peak in the Visayas, Mt. Kanlaon has a  lot of potentials in eco-tourism.

2009 Panaad Festival Officially Open

The 16th Panaad sa Negros Festival was officially opened by Governor Isidro P. Zayco yesterday. Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano was the guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies. Also present was Congressman Mikey Arroyo of Pampanga who represented the President.

The the Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009 Candidates were likewise presented to the public. The 24 lovely ladies vying for the Lin-ay crown had their chance to wow the the audience  with their beauty and charm.

The highlight of the opening was the festival dance competition participated by 22 of the best festivals in the province. The participants were all winners of the different festivals they represent thus the audience expect nothing but the best. And they were not disappointed.

Culminating the event was a fireworks display. The audience were awed by the display of lights that even the rain was not able to dampen their spirit.

Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009 Candidates

One of the much awaited events of the Panaad 2009 celebrations is the Search for Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009. The pageant night will be on April 24, 2009 at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Vying for the coveted title are 24 lovely candidates from the different cities and municipalities of the Province of Negros Occidental.

Here are the Lin-ay Sang Negros 2009 Candidates:

Bacolod – Krystalle Warns

Binalbagan – Tara Wave Divinagracia

Cadiz -  Camille Angelie Zaragoza

Calatrava – Kisha Elorza

Candoni – Charisse Maulit

Cauayan – Hazel Arce

Don Salvador Benedicto – Maria Vanessa Onio

E.B. Magalona – Aloha Vargas

Escalante – Rajevie Ravindrakumar

Himamaylan – Ciara Mae Pirote (Muse of the Media)

Hinigaran – Nikki Udani

Hinoba-an – Lara Lee Sarino

Ilog – Sheila Mae Dagunan

Isabela – Kristy Kate Aizpuru

Kabankalan – Rezzel Anne Florentino

La Carlota – Maria Danielle Diaz

La Castellana – Kris Piamor Gicaro

Moises Padilla – Shirley Caro

Murcia – Christianne Rose Villar

Sagay – Lovely Ann Sanchez

San Carlos – Danielle June Villaflor

Silay – Irene Antiporda of Silay

Talisay – Vickie Marie Milagrosa Rushton

Victorias – Rochiel Jangayo

Update: Lin-ay Sang Negrs 2009 Winners

Image Credit: Andy Alvarez

World-Class Bago Silk

Sericulture, the rearing of silkworm for the production of raw silk,  is a thriving industry in Bago City that supports hundreds of farmers. Because of its potential, Silk is the One Town, One Product (OTOP) of Bago City and the banner OTOP of the Province of Negros Occidental.

The Silkworm Rearing Project in Bago City is managed by Organization for Industrial, Spiritaul and Cultural Advancement (OISCA)- International, an NGO founded and based in Japan but extends help to developing countries mostly in Asia and the Pacific with agriculture as its main thrust.

Farmers from Bago and other neighboring towns rear silkworm whose cocoons are produced into silk yarns which are used as raw material for barong and other products.

The Sericulture project of OISCA was established in 1989 in Murcia, Negros Occidental with just 50 farmers and about 20 hectares of mullberry plantation. In 2008, around 260 farmers benefited from the project with 170 hectares of land utilized for mullberry plantation.

Good results of the initial cocoon production paved the way to the establishment of a Silk Reeling Plant at the OISCA Compound in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City which was inaugurated in 1999.

Around 80% of high quality silk  products are sold to weavers in Aklan and the remaining 20% to Manila dealers. The silk byproducts, pupae and silk of lower quality, were also fully utilized into other products.

Another milestone of the project was the establishment of a Silk Showroom and Weaving Center in 2004 which was inaugurated by no less than President Gloria Arroyo in 2005. Various products made of silk were on display such as barongs, bags, table runners, etc.

Prospects for the industry is still looking up with local demand still unmet. With the continuous support from the private and public sector, the project will continue to help a lot of farmers.

Sources: www.oisca.org, Ang Bagonhon, DTI OTOP-Philippines

Sinadya Sa Panaad 2009!

Big stars will be coming over to Bacolod City for the Aldrtz Sinadya sa Panaad 2009! on April 25, 2009, 8:00 PM at the Panaad Stadium. Aldrtz Corporation, the makers of Pau Liniment and Vita Pau brings you another event that will surely make your Panaad 2009 an experience full of fun and excitement.

Guest stars are Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu, Valerie Concepcion, Philip Younghusband, Mark San Diego, Pretty Tricia and Sugarfree.

FREE Concert Ticket will be given for every purchase of Aldrtz Products.

• P100 worth of Energo Energy Drink, Pau Essences, Vita Pau, Dr. Alfred’s Pure Mangosteen
• P200 worth of Pau Liniment, Pau D’ Arco Capsule/Tea

Ticket redemption centers:

• RMN/i FM Radio Station
  Lacson St., Bacolod City
• Selected Drugstores