Negros Occidental Tourism

Capture the essence of Negros Occidental in the annual celebration of Panaad sa Negros Festival every April in Bacolod City.

Dubbed the “Festival of Festivals”, Panaad (Hiligaynon for a vow and its fulfillment) is a colorful and jubilant presentation of individual festivals of the 13 cities and 19 municipalities of Negros Occidental. It presents Bacolod City’s famous Masskara, La Carlota’s rhythmic Pasalamat, San Carlos City’s multi-awarded Pintaflores, Kabankalan City’s Sinulog, Bago City’s Babaylan, Escalante City’s Manlambus, Sagay City’s Sinigayan, Cadiz City’s Dinagsa, Mambukal’s Mudpack, San Enrique’s Bulang-Bulang, La Castellana’s Bailes de Luces, Don Salvador Benedicto’s Kali-Kalihan, and many more.

It brings together the 32 LGUs in an array of theme booths that showcase their history, arts and culture, tourism, commerce, trade and industry, in the 25-hectare eucalyptus trees-lined Panaad Park and Sports Complex.

Panaad is also a time renewing bonds or initiating friendships. The festival attracts most of the 2.6 million-strong Negrenses, their balikbayan relatives and friends, who get a glimpse of the best offerings of the towns and cities in a tour of the uniquely designed booths, as well as in cultural presentations and friendly competitions for beauty, talent, skills, and in sports.

Free shows or concerts by popular Manila-based artists add fun and excitement to the festivities. The fun continues in the food and drinks alley that offer the famous chicken inasal, grilled fish and seafood, including various shellfish, oysters, and scallops. Local bands perform nightly till way past midnight in the food and drinks alley.

Panaad also features the gains the province has achieved in its diversification efforts and its priority agenda, particularly in Food Sufficiency and Agricultural Productivity. It is seriously developing its rice and corn industries and positioning livestock as its second major industry, next to sugar.

With the Negrenses’ pioneering spirit, Negros is no longer just sugar; it is also cutflowers and ornamentals, high value fruits and organically-grown vegetables, prawns and seafood, champion fighting cocks, exquisite handcrafted gift items and houseware, world-class furniture and garments, and many more.

Panaad is a thanksgiving celebration and an exhibition of the best of Negros Occidental… now, “Sugar… and more!”

History of Panaad sa Negros

Panaad sa Negros was conceptualized in 1993 by the Provincial Government and representatives of the private sector to showcase the festivals of each oof the then six (6) cities and 26 municipalities of Negros Occidental - their history, cultural heritage, commerce and industry and toursim potential. This was to be a yearly summer event for the Negrenses, both here and abroad, to look forward to and come home for.

The first Panaad sa Negros Festival was a three-day affair in 1993 that started April 30, a significant day because on this day in 1901 Negros Occidental became a separate and disctinct province from Negros Oriental. The separation and incorporation of both Negros provinces was to take efect on May 1, 1901.

The festival was held at the Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon fronting the Provincial Captiol for the first four years. As the festival grows each year, it become necessary to look for a bigger venue. IN 1997, the festival was held at the reclaimed area near the where BREDCO Port is located now.

The construction of the panaad stadium and swimming complex in Mansilingan, Bacolod City for the Palarong Pambansa in 1998 paved the way for the establishment of the Panaad Park as the permanent home of the festival. The park hosts the theme booths of the new 19 municipalities and 13 cities of Negros Occidenta, including the highly urbanized provincial capital, Bacolod City.

The stadium, which can accommodate around 25,000 spectators in its main grandstand and open bleachers, is the main venue for the cultural presentations. LGU competitions, concerts, and the festival highligth, the search for the “Lin-ay sg Negros”. the lady who optimizes the ideal Negrense woman.

The festival is supported by the Pag-ugyan Negros Foundation, Inc. and various corporate sponsors attracted by its magnitude and the large crowds it generates.

The Panaad Logo

The rainbow signifies firm, solid and absolute promise of God as the source of everything, as the rising sun symbolizes the brightness of hope for the people of Negros Occidental, represented by the boot-shaped cloud.