BACOLOD CITY – The city government launched the Christmas Festival of Lights on Saturday, December 2, to officially kick off the Yuletide season here.
Highlight of the event was the switch-on ceremony by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez of the 55-foot Christmas tree at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).
A TEAM performs in the arena dance competition during the Christmas Festival of Lights at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) to kick off the Yuletide season in Bacolod on Saturday, December 2. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod PIO)
The event, with the theme “Be A Star This Christmas” in partnership with STI West Negros University (STI-WNU), commenced with a Parade of Lights participated in by seven teams of dancers wielding light sticks accompanied by dazzling floats.
The arena dance competition proceeded amid the rain with the Orange Erudites as champion, Blue Guardians first runner-up, and Yellow Tycoons second runner-up.
The competition also featured performances from the Purple Wizards, Green Titans, Red Sentinels, and Pink Vikings.
Three floats – Red Sentinels, Pink Vikings, and Orange Erudites – were awarded for their creativity and festive spirit.
The event aimed to uplift the Christmas spirit and increase the joy felt by the people of this city this holiday season.
To continue this event, Councilor Em Ang passed an ordinance seeking the creation of the Bacolod Festival of Lights every first Saturday of December.
The city government has allotted P1 million based on an approved ordinance for this year’s Christmas Festival of Lights.