BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The “Kadalag-an Festival” of Victorias City was declared champion of the 2023 Panaad sa Negros Best of Festival Dances competition on Tuesday night at the Panaad Park and Stadium.
It received a trophy and a P100,000 cash prize.
The “Tinabu-ay Festival” of Murcia won first runner-up honors and a P75,000 cash prize. Second runner-up was the “Kansilayan Festival” of Silay City (P50,000 cash prize). Third runner-up was the “Pintaflores Festival” of San Carlos City (P30,000), and fourth runner-up was Ilog’s “Kisi-kisi Festival” (P20,000).
San Carlos City also got the Best Festival Video Introduction award with a P20,000 additional cash prize.
A total of 25 local government units competed.
Victorias City’s Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, in a social media post, said it was the first time that they brought home the gold.
“It has been 27 years (excluding the three pandemic years) of the Panaad Festival and 25 years of the Kadalag-an Festival! The highest ranking previously was sixth place. We never made it to the Top 5 except for this time,” said Benitez.
He congratulated the Kadalag-an dancers, especially their choreographer, Ricky Lapidante, and tourism officer Rical Calseña./PN
