DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Sept. 29 (PIA) – The Dumaguete City streets were once again alive with a festive atmosphere as its grandest cultural event called Sandurot Festival culminated with the Festival Street dancing and Showdown competition, which showcased the Dumagueteno artistry in choreography, costume, and visual appeal.

Thousands of spectators gathered at the Perdices Street and the Pantawan Area of the Rizal Boulevard on September 24 to watch 16 festival contingents from different barangays and schools in the city perform their Sandurot dance routines for the festival street dance and showdown.

Special guests during the culminating event were Yeongdong-gun, South Korea Vice-Mayor Jin Suk Kim and his party.

The foreign nationals were in the city for an official visit as part of Dumaguete and Yeongdong-gun’s sister city agreement.

Emerging as winners in the street dance competition are the contingents from Brgy. Motong (1st Place), Junob National High School (2nd place), and Brgy. Balugo (3rd Place).

Meanwhile, the winners for the Sandurot Festival Showdown Barangay Category were barangays Motong (1st Place), Cantil-E (2nd Place), and Balugo (3rd Place).

The winners for the Sandurot Festival Showdown School Category were Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial (RTPM) Dumaguete City Science High School (1st Place), Dumaguete City National High School (2nd Place), and Junob National High School (3rd Place).

Other participating contingents came from Brgy. Calindagan, Brgy. Bantayan, Brgy. Poblacion 8, Brgy. Looc, Brgy. Banilad, Brgy. Camanjac, Camanjac National High School, Piapi High School, Taclobo National High School, and Herminigilda Gloria Memorial High School.

Special awards given were the  Best Choreography-School Category for the Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial Dumaguete Science High School, Best Choreography-Barangay Category, Motong, Best Costume to Barangay Cantil-e, Best Instrumentalist to Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial Dumaguete Science High School,  Most Disciplined Contingent to Junob National High School, and Innovative Music Award to Brgy. Motong.

First place winners received P2 million worth of projects from the city government.

The 2nd place winners received P1.5 million worth of projects from the local government unit (LGU), while the third place winners received P1 million worth of projects.

The Sandurot Festival is the city’s annual cultural event.

The phrase “Dayon kamo sa Dumaguete! Mag Sandurot kitang tanan!", which contingents shout during their performances, is a call to welcome people to Dumaguete City and come together in friendship and in harmony.

Apart from the festival street dance and showdown, the weeklong festivity, which capped on September 17, 2023, also featured other events highlighting the talents of Dumaguetenos in art and design and also the strength of Dumaguetenos in sporting events.

Other cultural events included the Sandurot Sinina Fashion Show and Costume Competition, Sandurot Music Festival and the Sandurot Paghimamat “Pageant of Dumaguete History and Tradition." 

The sporting events and competitions during the festivity include the Sandurot Children’s Games and the Sandurot Half Marathon, Sandurot Photography Competition, and the Bodbod “Gabi” Cooking Competition.

Aside from this, festival organizers also conducted the Dumakaon Ta Food Fair and Local Producers Bazaar to support local restaurateurs, food shop owners, and also farmers in promoting their products to the public.

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo, in an interview, said he was happy with the outcome of this year’s Sandurot Festival Celebration.

“I’m so happy that it went very well. We can sell this as a big event. Dako ni siya ug commercial value. We can expect that next year will be a bigger and better year for Dumaguete," Remollo said.

With this, the city government hopes to attract more tourists to come to Dumaguete City and experience the Sandurot Festival. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)