FESTIVALS
Sandurot Festival is a joyful celebration of the people of
Dumaguete, their innate hospitality, friendliness, and their propensity to live
harmoniously with people of different race, religion, and cultural
beliefs. Through the course of history and to the present time, the people of
Dumaguete have always been known to welcome strangers from different shores and
countries, and to live with them in complete peace and understanding. This is
the innate trait of Dumagueteños celebrated by the Sandurot Festival. Held during
the city fiesta in November at the Rizal Boulevard, the festival reenacts the
coming of these foreigners and how, with dance and song, they were welcomed by
the natives. It is participated in by city barangays and/or schools, with each
contingent representing a foreign culture. The group, wearing the chosen
country's native costume, will then perform an intricately choreographed dance,
interpreting the meaning of "Sandurot", which means genuine unity and sharing.
The Santa Cruzan Festival in Dumaguete is always a star-studded affair.
The Santacruzan in May is celebrated in such a unique way
that it is not merely a parade of beautiful sagalas (which means the beautiful
ladies who carry signs in a parade), but a
re-enactment of religious and historical events.
Schools and universities in
Dumaguete also have
their own festivities which are crowd-drawers and eagerly awaited for by the Dumagueteños.
Silliman University, during its Founder's Day, is famous for its booths which
are put up by the different student organizations in campus. Thousands flock to
the SU grounds to see the displays during the week-long celebration. SU is also
famous for its prestigious Miss Silliman Beauty Pageant.
Foundation University also has its Kasadyaan Festival held in December. The
mardi gras parade is very colorful, the music and beat pulsating, and the dances
heady and exciting. This year, Foundation University celebrates its 50th
anniversary. One can only expect the best from FU this time in December.
Not to be outdone, the Central Visayas Polytechnic College is showcasing for the
first time its own festival, the Hudyawan, Dalansayaw. Scheduled on December 4,
1999, Hudyawan is mostly street dancing, dance showdowns, and music.
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