'Halad kay Kang-Laon' : 1st Mt. Kanlaon National Park Festival held by La Carlota

All roads led to Sitio Guintubdan, Brgy, Ara-al, La Carlota City on August 11 for the first Mt. Kanlaon National Park Festival as "Halad kay Kang-Laon" (Offerings to Kang-Laon). Its theme was "Pag-amlig sa Dungang Manggad para sa Kaayuhan sang Katawhan" (To Protect the Natural Resources for the Good of the People).

The City Tourism of La Carlota had initiated to celebrate this festival to give honor and respect to Haring Laon or Kang Laon as the great protector and provider of the natives who lived long time ago in the said volcano. And also this is to boost tourism industry in the said place which the neighboring towns and cities could benefit too.

According to local history or local legend, Kanlaon or Canlaon is an ancient name of a Visayan god. It is idolized by the natives as their highest Ruler. The natives did highly esteemed by worshiping him as "One who is the Ruler of Time".

The volcano is where the said Ruler stayed wherein native priests and priestesses visited and did some rituals and some offerings of their good harvest as tokens of their gratefulness and respect. Some other versions of this legend had been handed by the natives to one generation to the other.