Sandurot Festival celebrates Dumaguete's Charter Day

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Five barangays will showcase their talent and creativity in this year's Sandurot Festival competition on November 19, Saturday, as part of the city's 63rd Charter Day celebration.

The competing barangays are Banilad, Talay, Daro, Poblacion 8 and Looc.

City Tourism Officer Jessica Layumas said the winner will get P30,000 cash; 2nd place, P20,000; and 3rd place, P10,000, while non-winners will each get a consolation price of P5,000.

The champion in the Sandurot Festival will represent Dumaguete City in the Sinulog Festival to be held on January 2012 in Cebu City.

The Department of Tourism is this year's festival sponsor for the prizes, said Layumas adding that the City Tourism Office gave a seed money of P140,000 to the participating barangays for their props and uniforms.

The festival will start with the Re-enactment at 2 p.m., followed by the street dancing at 4 p.m. and the showdown at the City Hall quadrangle, starting at 6 p.m.

The Sandurot Festival is expected to be livelier this year with the inclusion of guest performers, the African Delegation, which will also showcase their style of dancing.

Other activities on Saturday will be the 1st Dumaguete Motard Challenge to be held in Bagacay, the 2nd Birik-birik Fishing Festival, the caught fishes from which will be sold immediately at Rizal Boulevard at very low prices, and the Sandurot Paddle Banca Race.

There were also the Trade Fair at Sta. Catalina St. that was opened on Nov. 13; the Open Invitation Basketball tournament from Nov. 15 to 24; and the Miss Dumaguete and Miss Teen Dumaguete Pageant Coronation Night on Nov. 23. - THE FREEMAN