Dumaguete City is rolling out novel activities as well as improving on existing ones to draw more tourists here during the celebration of Tourism Month in September.
At a press launch Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo disclosed the Sandurot Festival was moved to September from its usual schedule every month of November to highlight the City’s identity, as well as to pump up tourism promotions for the nationwide tourism celebration.
With more than a P2 million budget for the Sandurot Festival and other activities, City Tourism Officer Jacqueline Veloso-Antonio assured that September will be a month of food, fanfare, festivities, and sporting events.
The Sandurot Festival’s cultural presentation comprising Paghimamat (Get Together), Pasigarbo (Street Dance), and Pasundayag (Showdown) will be the highlight of this year’s activities, scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Eleven contingents have signed up for the competition, namely, Asian College, Dumaguete City High School, Junob National High School, Metro Dumaguete College, Piapi High School, Silliman University; Barangays Banilad, Cantil-e, Daro, Junob, and Looc.
One interesting feature this year is the introduction of the official festival soundtrack titled Mag Sandurot Ta, composed by Levi Alaban, and performed by Noris Wagas with the Silliman University Campus Choristers, and sound engineer Junijay Tinambacan. (click here for the audio soundtrack available in www.dumaguetemetropost.com)
Antonio said the festival soundtrack gives an identity to the Festival, while encouraging the 11 competing contingents to adopt other rhythms and music during their cultural presentations.
The musical composer Alaban is a graduate of the Silliman College of Performing & Visual Arts where he now teaches after earning a Bachelor of Music major in Composition, and a Master of Music specializing in Instrumental Conducting. He plays the drums and the trumpet, and is assistant director of the SU Concert Band. He also arranges musical compositions for the SU Marching Band and the Negros Oriental Jazz Band.
The Festival will run from Sept. 8 to 17, with activities such as a Dumaguete belltower light up, terracotta sculpting contest, electric night run, Duma Comida (food and music), national drone race, a half marathon, and a local producers’ bazaar (not merely a buy-and-sell).
The Philippine National Police has assured that security measures are in place, with the Dumaguete Police Station in charge of assigning police personnel in the different venues, as well as providing regular mobile and foot patrols.
The Sandurot Festival was held in previous years in November, during the Charter Day Anniversary of Dumaguete City on the 24th of that month, and the fiesta in honor of its patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria, the following day. (With a report from Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)