BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The 2023 Panaad sa Negros Festival sales may breach the P20-million mark.
Local government pavilions already have combined earnings of P14.1 million, according to Cheryl Decena, provincial tourism officer and festival director.
During the Lin-ay sang Negros Pageant on April 21, Decena noted a P4.5-million sales.
Thursday last week’s sales generated P3 million, while more or less P2 million was earned from Monday to Wednesday.
Decena said they may surpass the 2019 record of P20.2 million in total sales.
Dubbed the “mother of all festivals in Negros Occidental”, the Panaad sa Negros Festival was conceptualized on April 30, 1993 by the provincial government and representatives of the private sector to showcase the festivals of each of the then six cities and 26 municipalities (now 13 cities and 19 municipalities).
Panaad is the Hiligaynon word for “vow” or “promise”, coming from the root word “saad”. The festival is a form of thanksgiving to the Divine Providence and commemoration of a vow in exchange for a good life.
This year’s festivities were held for the first time after a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic./PN
