• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO

The 4th staging of the Bacolod Rum Festival kicked off Saturday at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds with the opening of the food park by Bacolod City Officials led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Tanduay executives.
This year’s festival theme is “Ambangan.”
The 8-day festivities which will run until August 18 will be a celebration filled with art, culinaria, mixology, while a Rum and Music Night will be held nightly at the food park at the BCGC grounds, Bacolod Councilor Jason Villarosa said.
Benitez, on the other hand, thanked the Tanduay officials for making the Rum Festival a very lively and entertaining celebration. “We look forward to the activities lined up for this year.”
Councilor Em Ang, main author of the Bacolod Rum Festival Ordinance, said the festival has already become one of the biggest cultural and tourism events in Bacolod.
“We are proud of how the festival has evolved since its inception five years ago, overcoming challenges and growing bigger each year. The resilience and passion demonstrated by everyone involved, from the organizers to the participants, reflect the never-say-die spirit of Bacolodnons and the unyielding and continued support of our partner, Tanduay Distillers,” she said.
“The creation of festivals is part of our local government’s vision as we continually explore ways on how to best utilize our creative assets and resources for socio-economic growth and cultural reinvigoration. The Rum Festival was born out of our deliberate intent to promote tourism, provide a venue for showcasing artistic talents, preserve our culture and enhance cultural appreciation while at the same time, boosting our local economy. The main ingredient in making rum is sugarcane which is the main agricultural [product] not only of Bacolod, but of the province,” Ang said.
Together, we have built a celebration that not only honors our heritage but also paves the way for future generations to appreciate and cherish, she said.
As we celebrate the 4th year of the Rum Festival, we extend our gratitude and appreciation to the LT Group and Tanduay, Distillers, for their unwavering support and commitment to making this festival a success year after year, Ang said.
She also congratulated Tanduay for being declared once again as the top-selling rum brand in the world by Drinks International Magazine and for being the world’s 7th biggest spirit brand.
“Again, thank you everyone for your support and we look forward to continued collaboration and innovation, ensuring that the Bacolod Rum Festival remains a cherished tradition for many years to come,” Ang added.
Meanwhile, Villarosa said a Mixology and Flairtending Competition – Bacolod elimination will be held today at the Activity Center of Ayala Malls Capitol Central. This by-invitation nationwide competition will feature professional bartenders showcasing their skills in mixology and bartending.
On Aug. 14 to 15 will be the Culinary Competition to determine the best restaurant offering unique culinary creations with rum as a key ingredient, he said.
Other activities include a plant tour at Tanduay Manufacturing Plant in Murcia on Friday, followed by the grand finals for the Mixology and Flairtending Competition at Seda Capitol Central on Friday. A motorcade of Tanduay ambassadors with special guests will be held on Saturday, to be followed by a parade and street dance competition at the BCGC grounds on Saturday.*