BACOLOD CITY, April 16 -- Senator Imee Marcos called the Panaad sa Negros Festival an "achievement" of the Negrenses as she highlighted the "visible and tangible developments" in Negros Occidental and this highly urbanized city in recent years.

"Today's theme, as expressed by our good governor (Eugenio Jose Lacson), is 'living the promise' of better and brighter days for the province of Negros Occidental. Panaad is no longer a mere promise but in fact, achievement," she said during the opening of the weeklong festival's 28th edition at the Panaad Park and Stadium here Monday afternoon.

The province's award-winning "festival of all festivals," took its name from "Panaad," the Hiligaynon word for vow or promise.

"All the mayors and vice ...