How does Bacolod City celebrate the Chinese New Year? Just like any other major city in the Philippines, Bacolod City also has a rich Chinese influence which is evident in its Chinese temples, prominent Chinese businessmen and the existence of a Chinatown. It’s not surprising then that Bacolod is one of the few cities outside Metro Manila with a grand celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Experience the merging of two cultures as the City of Bacolod and the Filipino-Chinese Community bring you the Bacolod Bacolaodiat Festival.
Bacolaodiat Festival 2020 Schedule of Activities
The Bacolaodiat Festival 2020 will be held on January 31 to February 2, a week after the Chinese New Year’s Day on January 25 but the annual welcoming of the Chinese New Year will still proceed . This 2020 is the 15th year of the BacoLaodiat Festival and will be the Year of the Rat.
Recommended: MassKara Festival 2020 Guide
History of Bacolaodiat
Bacolaodiat was first held in 2006 under the leadership of Mayor Bing Leonardia. Inspired by the Chinese New Year celebration in neighboring Iloilo City, Mayor Leonardia thought of having the same festival in Bacolod City to show support and appreciation on the contribution of the Filipino-Chinese community to the economy of Bacolod.
Bacolaodiat was coined from “Bacolod “ and “Lao Diat”, the Fookien word for celebration. Those who have been to Bacolod would attest that Bacoleños have their own brand of celebration which is evident in the Masskara Festival and the same zest for celebration is brought to Bacolaodiat.
Andrew Tan: Adopted Son of Bacolod City
It is customary every Bacolaodiat that the City of Bacolod bestows the titles ‘Adopted Son of Bacolod City’ and ‘Honorary Mayor of Bacolod City’ to a highly-respected Filipino or Filipino-Chinese.
Bacolod City through the Sangguniang Panlungsod is set to bestow the titles to Megaworld Corporation chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Andrew L. Tan on February 1.
The City of Bacolod recognizes Dr. Andrew L. Tan as a visionary and trendsetter in the real estate industry. The projects of Megaworld Corporation in Bacolod has already brought a lot of investments and employment to the city and its townships, The Upper East and The Northill Gateway, will also be new growth centers in Bacolod City.
Bacolaodiat Festival Attractions
Bacolaodiat Festival is meant to showcase the best of the Filipino and Chinese cultures in its many facets. The festivities commence with a Dazzling Grand Parade, a parade of Tsinoys in their traditional Chinese costumes, city officials, students of Chinese schools, colorful 12 Zodiac floats, lanterns, lions and dragons dancers along the main streets of Bacolod.
Imperial Village
The Imperial Village showcases the Asian arts and crafts such as calligraphy, wishing tree, and palm reading, among others.
Chopsticks Alley
Mouthwatering Chinese foods will be enjoyed by the visitors at the Chopsticks Alley located along the North Capitol Road. You may also learn Chinese cooking through demos at the Chopsticks Alley.
Symphony of Lights and Sparks
Guests will be entertained nightly by live band, cultural shows and fireworks display accompanied by the official BacoLaodiat music at the Symphony of Lights and Sparks.
Lantern Street Dance Competition
Bacoleños took the Chinese New Year Celebration a notch higher with the Lantern Dance Competition which attracts a multitude of visitors every year. The competition is held at night Dancers wear colorful Chinese costumes and use lanterns as they dance to the Bacolaodiat theme song.
Experience Chinese Culture in Bacolod
Don’t just visit Bacolod for the Bacolaodiat Festival but take time to experience Chinese culture around the city especially the food.
Chinatown: Bacolod Shopping Center
The 27-hectare Capitol Shopping Center was developed by Alfredo Montelibano Sr. as a new location for Chinese businessmen displaced by the great fire of 1955 which gutted the downtown Bacolod. The area became a prominent commercial center in Bacolod when it was opened. However, Shopping lost its luster due to the the opening of big malls in the downtown.
In order to revive the Capitol Shopping Center, the City Government of Bacolod named it as the Bacolod City Chinatown through a city ordinance in which gave initial funding to the improvement of the Capitol Shopping Center. The same ordinance also provides tax incentives to businesses who will invest at Shopping in the hope of reviving the once robust Shopping Center.
Chinese Food in Bacolod
Lacson Street is called Bacolod’s Tourism Strip because of the various restaurants that line the whole street. Famous Chinese restaurants along Lacson Street are Mai Pao and L’Sea Dimsum.
Mai Pao is located at VSB Building in front of the Capitol Lagoon. They have excellent dimsum as well as Hainanese chicken and honey soy pork. They claim to be MSG-free.
L’Sea Dimsum is located beside L’Fisher Hotel along Lacson Street. The price is affordable and they have rice toppings if you’re dining solo. Beef brisket, shrimp balls, and chicken feet are some of the locals’ favorites.
Bacolod’s Capitol Shopping Center is the Chinatown Center of Bacolod so here you can find businesses owned by Filipino-Chinese and this is where you go if you want to savor authentic Chinese dishes.
Apollo Restaurant is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Bacolod so you can bet their food is also good. They already have several branches around the city but their branch located along Hilado St. is their original branch. All time favorites are battered chicken, lumpia, and bird’s nest soup. Their pancit dishes are a hit especially during birthdays. Best of all, the prices are very affordable.
Also located along Hilado St. and almost across Apollo is the Diamond Palace Restaurant. It is a little fancier and pricier than Apollo and the food can also give them a run for their money. You can select from the live seafood available like grouper or crab so you’re seafood is really fresh.
You can probably find the best fried chicken in Bacolod at Bacolod Shopping. Chinese friend chicken was made famous here by Luisa Fried Chicken long before a fastfood chain. Located along Narra Avenue, Luisa Fried Chicken is manned by the owner who also takes your order, serve your food and receive your payment.
Siopao is a Chinese food that has been embraced by Filipinos with open arms and the best place to have it in Bacolod is at City Lunch. Their siopao’s filling is a perfect combination of chicken, pork, egg and Chinese chorizo. City Lunch is also located along Narra Avenue and have been around for decades. Don’t expect much from the ambiance though, but they also serve the best machang in Bacolod.
Chinese Temples
There are three Chinese Buddhist temples in Bacolod but the one which is more open to the public during Chinese New Year is the Yuan Thong Temple along Burgos St. Filipinos also have an opportunity to experience how the Chinese celebrate the New Year at the Yuan Thong Temple where there will be chanting and lighting of lotus candle, incense offering, ceremonial beating of the drum and releasing of Chinese lanterns. They also serve buffet vegetarian Chinese food during the celebrations.
Chinese New Year is more fun in Bacolod City so don’t be left behind. Come to Bacolod and experience Bacolaodiat Festival. Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!