Bacolod all set for longest chicken BBQ bid
BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco will be the guest of honor and speaker at the opening of the 1stBacolod Inasal Festival on May 15.
Councilor Alex Paglumotan said they invited the governor because he is the father of the province with Bacolod as the capital city.
Senator Francis Escudero on the other hand will be the speaker at the closing on the 19th.
Paglumotan said they want to revive the economic climate in the Manokan Country and establish it as part of the city’s tourism destination.
The 6-day festival will start with a grand parade at 3 p.m. on Friday from the new government center and will end at the SM City North Wing parking lot, across the Manokan Country.
The awarding of the founders of the Manokan Country, who include Leonardia, will be held during the opening, while other key players will also be commended by the city.
Electric MassKara will perform on Saturday to give those who have not seen the activity in October, an opportunity to experience it in summer.
Paglumotan said that with the help of the private sector and sponsors, they hope to establish a world record on May 19 for having the longest barbeque grill.
He said this will be held at the SM City North Terminal and will involve about 54,000 pieces of cut chicken, about 600-800 sacks of charcoal and 922 pieces of G.I. sheets. These are all donations from sponsors and the city is not spending for this, he added.
Paglumotan also said a group of contractors will help them build a 4.5 to 5 kilometers barbeque grill. The Boracay fire dancers will be an added attraction during the festival, he also said.
“We strongly contend that chicken barbeque started in Bacolod,” Paglumotan said.
The city has allocated a budget of P500,000 for the festival and the city also spent for the site development amounting to P1.5 million to improve the Manokan Country.
The Inasal Festival is a brainchild of Mayor Evelio Leonardia to promote the famous ‘inasal’ of Bacolod not only in the country but even to the world as it vies for Guinness World Record on its first year.