Tanduay Bacolod Rum Fest: Bannering rich local artistry, culinary, history

BACOLOD. Mike Tambasen Group performs at the Jazz Music Festival. (Contributed Photo)
BACOLOD. Mike Tambasen Group performs at the Jazz Music Festival. (Contributed Photo)

After two years of hiatus due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the highly anticipated Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival is finally back with jam-packed activities geared towards further promoting the rich local artistry, culture and history as well as culinary scene.

Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang, on the sidelines of the opening rites at the Art District in the city’s Barangay Mandalagan on Friday, August 12, said most of the activities are about art and culture “to commemorate the fact that the biggest rum in the world right now is made here in Bacolod City.”

“We would like to capitalize on that, it’s (rum) a by-product of sugarcane which is for the longest time, the main crop of Negros,” Ang, who authored the city ordinance creating the rum festival in 2019, also said.

For the councilor, Bacolod City is rich when it comes to artistry, citing local visual artist Charlie Co whose works have already conquered the national and international scenes.

“We have many other talented artists who are not highlighted if we don’t have activities like this rum festival,” she said, adding that the local artists in various disciplines like visual arts, music, dance and film, among others really have huge potential but are yet to be given opportunity to be seen, to be recognized.

Ang, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on History, Culture and Arts, said the city council has already passed a resolution she authored requesting and urging Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to convene the city’s Art and Culture Council.

“It’s multisectoral, representing all art disciplines and culture societies in Bacolod City. Through the council, we can plan and brainstorm what are other activities, programs and projects that can be implemented to make our culture really vibrant and active,” the official said.

The Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival, she added, is a prelude to the MassKara Festival. This is the first in-person festival after two years “so this will signal the opening of tourism in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.”

Bannering local artistry, this year’s rum festival opened with an art exhibition and jazz concert featuring Bacolod’s leading artists.

Tanduay, in a statement, said that as a proudly Philippine-made rum, it has always been a staunch supporter of local artists.

“The art exhibition and concert featuring Bacolod’s finest are the perfect opening events for the festival, which celebrates the best of the local industry,” it added.

Co, founder of the Orange Project and Orange Gallery, conceptualized the Jazz Music Festival to complement the opening of the new art exhibit at the gallery.

The group exhibition titled “Man and Monster” will feature the works of the Para Collective composed of artists Lec Cruz, Jason Montinola, RA Tijing, Ciane Xavier, Kaloy Sanchez, Nix Puno, Martin Honasan, Dexter Sy, Krista Nogueras, Don Dalmacio, and Victoria.

The exhibit also includes the works of artists from Manila such as Dex Fernandez, Kiko Escora, Romeo Lee, and 13 Lucky Monkey.

“We tried our very best to inspire and make all of us proud that the art scene of Bacolod City is alive,” Co said.

The music festival, on the other hand, featured local groups Mike Tambasen Group, Mojo Nava, and Nancy Brew.

On the same day, the Food Park at the New Government Center (NGC) grounds also started. The city’s most popular dishes and other food options are available to the public from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. during the entire nine-day rum festival.

“This rum festival will surely bring Bacolod back on track again,” Councilor Jason Villarosa, who was also present at opening rites, said.

On Saturday, August 13, the barrel painting contest was held at the Main Atrium of SM City Bacolod.

The four-day street art competition, meanwhile, opened at Bazket BCD on Lacson Avenue on Sunday, August 14. It will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, August 16, the Bottle Art Competition will be held at SM City Bacolod from 10 a.m. to 7: p.m.

At 1 p.m. on the same day, the screening for the flairtending and mixology competitions will be held at Planta Hotel. Chef BJ Uy will lead the distinguished panel of judges who will screen the contestants.

On August 19 and 20, the highly anticipated culinaria contest will be held along with a food crawl of some of Bacolod’s leading restaurants.

The nine-day festivity will end with a float parade and street dance competition from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the NGC grounds to be followed by the grand finals of the flairtending and mixology contests at 7 p.m. and awarding ceremonies of the barrel art, bottle art, street art, and culinaria competitions at 8 p.m.

Adding more fun and excitement to the festival is a free concert featuring Ethan Loukas, Magnus Haven, and Arthur Nery also at the NGC ground at 8:30 p.m.Tanduay brand ambassador Derek Ramsay will make a special guest appearance.

For her part, overall festival director Charmaine Pahate said the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival shows the successful collaboration of a brand and government partnership.

“We invite everyone to come to Bacolod City to experience the rum festival. Visit the Food Park at the NGC. Immerse in the art of the local artists. And see you all on August 20, in the evening, for the Music Festival. Let's celebrate with the world's number one rum, Tanduay!” she added.

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