BACOLOD City – This city is set to celebrate the Bacolaodiat Festival, a three-day event marking the Chinese Lunar New Year, from January 31 to February 2, 2025, the start of the Year of the Snake in Chinese astrology.
Bacolaodiat Inc., led by Chairman John Stephen Sy, recently submitted their proposal for the festival to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez. The organization, responsible for the event’s planning, has requested financial support from the city, similar to last year’s P5-million funding, though they hope for an increase to enhance the 2025 festivities.
The Bacolaodiat Festival, a blend of “Bacolod” and “Lao Diat” (a Chinese phrase for celebration), highlights the cultural bond between Bacolod’s Chinese community and local residents. The festival, first recognized by City Ordinance 426 in 2007, is an official city event that symbolizes the shared heritage and identity of Bacolod’s Chinese and Filipino-Chinese communities.
Sy also proposed to the mayor that Hans Sy, a prominent investor in Bacolod, be honored as an adopted son and honorary mayor of the city.
Hans Sy has significantly contributed to the city’s economic development, with investments including a major mall, the National University campus, and redevelopment projects at the Old Airport and Manokan Country in Barangay 12.
City leaders and Bacolaodiat organizers aim to make the 2025 celebration a memorable occasion, showcasing the rich traditions of the Chinese New Year while reinforcing the strong ties between Bacolod’s diverse communities./PN
