BACOLOD City – The City of Victorias and La Castellana town in Negros Occidental were declared champions in the city and municipal categories, respectively, of the Best of Festival Dances Competition of the Panaad sa Negros Festival 2025.
The contest was held at Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan during the festival’s opening on Monday, March 24.
Other winners are the following:
City category
* Silay City – first runner-up
* San Carlos City – second runner-up
* Bago City – third runner-up
* Cadiz City – fourth runner-up
Municipal category
* Manapla – first runner-up
* Calatrava – second runner-up
* Murcia – third runner-up
* Don Salvador Benedicto – fourth runner-up
“Our own Sidlak Kadalag-an Festival dancers have done it again — three-time champion of the Best of Festival Dance in Panaad sa Negros,” read part of the Facebook post of the Victorias City Information Office.
It added: “Victorias, we made history! Thank you for bringing pride, glory, and honor to our city.”
Meanwhile, Festival Executive Director Charina Magallanes-Tan highlighted a new initiative to encourage everyone to visit all pavilions of the local government units (LGUs) at Panaad Park.
“We have introduced this snap and stamp contest. They will be given like a passport, and every LGU booth that they go to will stamp their passport,” Magallanes-Tan said.
“At the end of the day, they can put it in the drop box, and then there will be a raffle, and we will choose the lucky winner. It is an initiative to encourage foot traffic in our LGU booth. It’s open to everyone,” she added.
The Panaad sa Negros Festival, also known as the “mother of all festivals” in the province, involves 13 cities and 19 municipalities.
For his part, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson considered this year’s edition of the festival as “non-political.”
“We did not invite national candidates for the midterm elections,” Lacson said. “Local chief executives however have the right to be here and lead their constituents.”
Gov. Lacson said local candidates can visit festival sites, allowing them “to shake hands with everybody and give T-shirts,” but not campaign materials./PN
