The Bacolaodiat Festival 2012 will be celebrated on January 20-23 and this year will be the 7th BacoLaodiat Festival which will usher in the Year of the Dragon with the theme “A Majestic Spirit in a Challenging Year.”
Bacolaodiat which was coined from Bacolod and Lao Diat (Fookien word for celebration), is Bacolod City’s celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Every year, the Bacolaodiat Festival gets bigger with the support of Filipino-Chinese community. Filipinos have also embraced the celebration since the Chinese culture has a very strong influence us.
Chinese foods will be showcased at the Chopsticks Alley with cooking demo from our local cooking experts such as Chef Sandy Solinap of Verdera and Chef Ronnie Guance of PURO Organic.
The Lantern and Street Dance Competition also gets more exciting every year with more groups joining. Dancers wear colorful Chinese costumes and uses lanterns as they dance to the lively Bacolaodiat theme song.
Last year I wished that the Chinese New Year will be declared a non-working holiday and I’m glad this came true this year. With the declaration of January 23 as a non-working holiday, expect more people to come to the Bacolaodiat festival.
Chines New Year is more fun in Bacolod City so don’t be left behind. Mark your calendar Toto and Inday. Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!
2012 Bacolaodiat Schedule of Activities
| January 20, 2012 | |
| VENUE: | NORTH CAPITOL ROAD |
| 4:00pm | DAZZLING GRAND PARADE Route: SM City Bacolod to Lacson St. A colorful parade with illuminated floats, lanterns, lions and dragons. |
| 4:30pm | OPENING OF CHOPSTICKS ALLEY Location: North capitol road (between provincial lagoon and PNB bldg). A food walk and night market with colorful booths of delicious Chinese food, souvenirs, arts and crafts. The crowd will be enriched with glittery street acts and live performances nightly. |
| 6:30pm | CULTURAL SHOW A cultural show of Chinese and Filipino songs and dances, displaying the colorful meaning of two cultures. |
| 9:00pm | SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS & SPARKS Multi-fireworks show scored with music and drumbeats matched with lantern installations at designated parks. |
| 10:00pm | TANDUAY NIGHT – LIVE BAND |
| January 21, 2012 | |
| VENUE: | NORTH CAPITOL ROAD |
| 4:00pm | CHOPSTICKS ALLEY PARADE OF MASCOTS Lots of photo opportunities as different mascots walk around Lacson Street. |
| 5:30pm | KAPUSO NIGHT |
| 8:30pm | SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS & SPARKS |
| 10:30pm | PUREFOODS NIGHT – LIVE BAND |
| VENUE: | PESPSI STAGE / PNB LACSON |
| 5:00pm | CANON PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST |
| 7:00PM | ST. JOHN’S INSTITUTE NIGHT |
| 9:30pm | PEPSI NIGHT |
| VENUE: | COKE STAGE / 16TH LACSON ST. |
| 9:30pm | COKE NIGHT |
| VENUE: | SAN MIGUEL STAGE / 13TH LACSON ST. |
| 9:30pm | SAN MIGUEL NIGHT |
| January 22, 2012 | |
| VENUE: | NORTH CAPITOL ROAD |
| 4:00pm | CHOPSTICKS ALLEY |
| 6:00pm | LANTERN STREET DANCE COMPETITION A blend of Chinese and Modern street dance highlighted with the use of lanterns choreographed to various formations. |
| 9:00pm | UNILIVER NIGHT – LIVE BAND |
| 11:30pm | SYMPHONY OF LIGHT AND SPARKS |
| VENUE: | PEPSI STAGE / PNB LACSON |
| 7:00pm | LANTERN STREET DANCE COMPETITION |
| 9:30pm | PEPSI NIGHT |
| VENUE: | SAN MIGUEL STAGE / 13TH ST. LACSON |
| 8:00pm | LANTERN STREET DANCE COMPETITION |
| 10:00pm | SAN MIGUEL NIGHT |
| VENUE: | COKE STAGE / 16TH LACSON |
| 9:00pm | LANTERN STREET DANCE COMPETITION |
| 10:30pm | COKE NIGHT |
| VENUE: | NEGROS OCCIDENTAL MULTIPURPOSE GYM |
| 10:00pm | LANTERN STREET DANCE COMPETITION |
| VENUE: | YUAN THONG TEMPLE |
| 9:00pm | CHANTING FOR NEW YEAR BLESSING |
| 11:30pm | CEREMONIAL 108 BEATING OF THE DRUM |
| January 23, 2012 | |
| VENUE: | SM EVENT CENTER |
| 3:00pm | SM BACOLAODIAT CHAMPION’S SHOWDOWN |
| VENUE: | GOVERNMENT CENTER |
| 5:30pm | ABS-CBN KAPAMILYA DAY |
| 8:30pm | PEACOCK PRESENT DRAGON FIREWORKS |
| 10:30pm | MANILA BEER NIGHT – LIVE BAND |
| January 24, 2012 | |
| VENUE: | QUEEN OF PEACE PARISH / ST. JOHN’S INSTITUTE |
| 7:30pm | CHINESE NEW YEAR MASS |
| 9:00pm | DRAGON DANCE |
| 9:00pm | CHINESE DANCE PRESENTATIONS |