NEGROS Occidental's Panaad sa Negros Festival was among the entries nationwide shortlisted for this year's Pearl Awards.
Panaad will advance in the final screening of shortlisted nominees slated Friday at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts office in Intramuros, Manila.
The annual search, organized by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (Atop) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), recognizes exceptional practices, projects, and innovations in the Philippine tourism arena in the past years.
Ma. Lina Sanogal, Provincial Planning and Development coordinator, said that Panaad Festival is gunning for the Hall of Fame award in the provincial festival category of the Best Tourism Event this year.
Sanogal, Panaad Festival executive director, said the province won the award in 2008 and also in 2014 and 2015.
"If we win the 2016 contest, we will be installed in the Hall of Fame," she said.
Sanogal will join Provincial Tourism Officer Cristine Mansinares and Special Programs and Concerns Division head Ian de Ramos in the final screening tomorrow.
Dubbed as “festival of all festivals,” Panaad features the festivals of the 13 cities and 19 towns in Negros Occidental every summer.
It also showcases an array of themed pavilions of the 32 localities that highlights their history, arts, culture, commerce, trade and industry.