Musical fireworks display is Negros' newest tourist attraction

BAGO CITY, Jan. 4 (PNA) - It was a night to remember for about 10,000 people who braved cold weather to witness the New Year’s fireworks display at Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center here.

The 15-minute choreographed spectacular awed them as multi-colored fireworks lit Bago City’s night sky while music from crossover soprano singer Sarah Brightman, classical composer George Frideric Handel and German hard rock band ‘Eloy’ played in the background.

Such a show is part of Mayor Ramon Torres’ "Lights of Bago" gift to his constituents and other Negrenses.

He promised more spectacular fireworks display in the future as Bago City will make such event another tourist attraction in Negros Occidental province.

Raymond Stoffel, a retired international corporate lawyer from Luxembourg and who is married to a Bagoeña, presented to the city government the idea of holding choreographed musical fireworks display.

Bago City welcomed this proposal, committing financial and other logistic support for the event which is slated to be held annually.

“It’s just bringing joy and my country’s culture to my wife’s homeland -- that’s sharing and linking for brotherhood,” Stoffel said.

The musical fireworks show resulted from eight months of preparation Stoffel coordinated with Peacock fireworks, a Bacolod City-based company importing pyrotechnic materials from Singapore and China.