Suspended for two years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Sipalay City’s Burangoy Tourism Kite Festival will return on March 30 as one of the major events in the city’s 21st Charter Anniversary.

As of Friday, preparations are underway for the event’s eighth year of showcasing colorful and unique kites at the Poblacion beach, the city government headed by Mayor Maria Gina Lizares said.

“In support of the ‘no plastic policy’, all entries shall not be made of any plastic material,” it added.

“Burangoy” is coined from the words “burador” or kite, and “barongoy”, a local term for flying fish.

The kite flying exhibitions will be on March 30 to April 3 while the actual competition will be held on March 31.

The competition, which is open to all kite enthusiasts in Negros Occidental, has four categories, including Flat Kites, Figure Kites, Message of Hope Kites, and Burangoy Kites.

Last month, the Sipalay City Tourism Office conducted a two-day kite-making workshop in observance of the Arts Month and also in preparation for the kite festival.

“We will ensure that minimum public health standards are observed during the celebration of the Charter Anniversary and the kite festival,” the city government said.

The Sipalay kite festival is the grand winner in the Best Tourism Event (Sports) City Category of the 2018 Pearl Awards organized by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism. (PNA)