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.