BACOLOD City – The 48th Sinulog Festival in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental officially kicked off on Friday, Jan. 12.
About a thousand security forces were deployed to ensure peace and order in the city throughout the festivities.
Mayor Benjie Miranda said security personnel included members of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and force multipliers.
A send-off ceremony was held early in the morning before the opening ceremony of the festival.
Miranda said this year’s celebration will be the grandest because of the series of major activities lined up for the next 10 days.
On the celebration highlights, slated for Jan. 21, a total of 10 groups will be performing for the tribal competition.
These are barangays Tan-Awan (red), Binicuil (green), Bantayan (gray), Orong (blue), 6 (orange), Talubangi (pink), Hilamonan (black), Camingawan (white), 1 (yellow), and Tagoc (purple).
The champion will receive P2 million worth of projects and a P120,000 cash prize.
Projects worth P1.5 million, P1 million, and P750,000, as well as cash prizes amounting to P100,000, P80,000, and P50,000, will be given to the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively.
The mayor disclosed that each tribe was provided by the city government with a P1 million subsidy./PN
