BACOLOD CITY – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has launched this year’s Panaad sa Negros festival from April 17 to 23. Provincial officials headed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and festival director Cheryl Decena unveiled the festival’s official logo at the Capitol Park and Lagoon here on Tuesday, March 14. This year’s festival with the theme “The Promise Renewed” returns after a three-year halt due to the pandemic. In his message, Lacson recalled how the province battled with the pandemic, leading to the closure of borders and suspension of the festivity for the safety of about three million residents. But, now, the governor said, the province is again ready to celebrate the Panaad sa Negros festival. Lacson said that this year’s festival is more than just a resumption of the event that they were compelled to abandon during the pandemic. “This is a commemoration of our province’s resilience, perseverance, hope, and faith after all we went through for the past three years,” he added. During the launching, 27 candidates representing different towns and cities in the Lin-ay Sang Negros beauty pageant were presented. The festival dubbed as the mother of all festivals in the province showcases 32 themed pavilions, including the capital Bacolod City, at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan here. This year's festival will also introduce an event called the “Best of Negros Products,” which will feature winners with national, regional, and provincial qualifications for food and non-food products. The province has allocated P25 million to finance the festival and will also provide financial assistance to local government units which will be sourced from a separate account under the Governor's Office. In 2017, the province was elevated to the Hall of Fame of the Pearl Awards, after the Panaad sa Negros Festival was hailed Best Tourism Event in the Provincial Festival category in 2014, 2015, and 2016.