NEW FESTIVAL. Merry-makers of Barangay Singcang-Airport perform in front of their booth for the 1st Halandumon Food and Trade Fair being held behind the Bacolod City Government Center. A related event, the 1st Halandumon Festival, a street and arena dance competition featuring the festivals of this city’s barangays, will be held on Sunday (June 16, 2019). (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO)
BACOLOD CITY -- A total of 17 villages will join the 1st Halandumon Festival, a street and arena dance competition featuring the festivals of this city’s barangays, at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on Sunday afternoon.
The number of participants increased by two from the initial 15, and the day of the festival was also moved earlier to June 16, from the initially announced June 17.
The competing groups include barangays 2, 3, 14, 17, 27, 32, 35, 38, 41, Tangub, Pahanocoy, Villamonte, Estefania, Banago, Vista Alegre, Alangilan, and Mansilingan.
The festival is part of the nine-day “Mga Adlaw Sang Paghanduraw (Days of Remembrance)”, the city’s yearly commemoration of history, art and culture from June 12 to 20 as provided in City Ordinance 616.
This year’s events will be highlighted by the 81st Charter Day to be commemorated for the first time on June 18 under Republic Act 11146 approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 9, 2018.
Halandumon is a Hiligaynon word, which means memorable or worthy to be remembered.
Councilor Em Ang, chair of the City Council committee on tourism, said the Halandumon festivity was patterned after the province’s Panaad sa Negros Festival in bringing together the city’s barangays.
Also part of the events is the 1st Halandumon Food and Trade Fair. which features the booths of the city’s 61 barangays, showcasing their delicacies and other products, such as plants and souvenir items, in the area behind the Bacolod Government Center.
Over at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, the Halandumon Photo Exhibit is also ongoing. On display are 41 select photos of old Bacolod and pictures of the flagship projects of the city government. (PNA)
