The document provides information about festivals celebrated in various cities and municipalities in Negros Oriental, Philippines. It describes the origins and highlights of each festival, many of which involve street dancing competitions and fluvial processions featuring elaborately decorated boats. Examples given include the Budyas Festival in Amlan, which features a ritual blessing of fishermen and their gear followed by a procession of sea crafts; the Tawo-Tawo Festival in Bayawan celebrating scarecrows; and the Pasayaw Festival in Canlaon City expressing thanksgiving through dance.

1. Beautiful young maidens
adorn one of the seacrafts
and paraphernalia, during the
fluvial procession of
decorated boats
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CITIES & MUNICIPAL
Amlan Jimalalud
Bais City Pamplona
Bayawan City San Jose
Bindoy Sibulan
Canlaon City Santa Catalina
Dumaguete City Tanjay City
Guihulngan
THE MOST CELEBRATED EVENTS IN Negros Oriental
AMLAN
BUDYAS FESTIVAL – November 30
The town of Amlan is known for its fishing industry.
The coastal Barangay of Tandayag has two chapels, one in Tandayag Norte and
another in Tandayag Sur. The budyas is a ritual blessing of the fishermen and their
fishing gear on the beach in front of the south chapel, after which the images of the two
patrons of Amlan, Saints Peter and Paul, are transported to the northern chapel in a
fluvial procession of elaborately decorated sea craft. Street dancing follows, with the
contingents in fish folk motif. A feature of the town’s November 30 fiesta. Old ritual on
the beach to invoke good fortune on fishing vessels and paraphernalia, followed by
fluvial procession of decorated boats. Budyas festival is a traditional ritual on the
waterfront of the town of Amlan where offerings are made for the spirits of the sea to
invoke good fortune for the fishermen and their fishing implements. The images of St.
Peter and St. Paul are then ferried on a lavishly decorated boat followed by other well
decorated seacrafts from the chapel of Tandayag Sur (south) to the chapel of
Tandayag Norte (north). This fluvial procession is held every 30th day of November,
the town fiesta of Amlan. A Catholic church Mass follows the procession which is then concluded with a
streetdancing to the town plaza where a field presentation is finally held.

2. BAIS CITY
Hudyaka sa Bais – September 7
Bais City is one of the three cities in the Province of Negros Oriental
occupying the eastern portion of Negros Island.
Spectacular Mardi gras parade and plaza revelry to highlight the fiesta of San
Nicolas de Tolentino, patron of the city which cradled the province's sugar
industry participated by different barangays in a street dancing to celebrate the
fiesta of the city.
BAYAWAN CITY
Tawo-tawo Festival – December 23
The city of Bayawan lies in the southwest tip of Negros Oriental.
Bayawan city is known as the agricultural capital of Negros Oriental. An
abundant harvest is always anticipated and the presence of the "Tawo-
Tawo" or scarecrow had always been a great help to the farmers for several
decades. This farmer's creation has resulted to achieve bountiful yield
during harvest--for the "tawo-tawo" has been known to be an effective scare
to drive away the birds locally known as "maya" that feeds on the ripening
rice grains. Thus, the birth of the "Tawo-Tawo" festival. This festival has
been an added attraction to the city fiesta of Bayawan. The festival has
drawn mixed crowds--the local townspeople, visitors from nearby towns and
even foreigners. They came in droves to witness the streetdancing
spectacle and field presentation. The tableau of rice culture from planting to
harvesting complete with the primary characters--farmers, mayas,
scarecrows and carabaos are presented by the different contingents in an
artistically choreographed movements to the beating of the drums and other
musical instruments.
In the past, participation is open to schools, barangays, private entities and
even neighboring municipalities. Presently, the festival is confined as a
competition among the twenty-eight barangays of the city. Dancers wearing scarecrow costumes
during the field presentation.
BINDOY
Libod-Sayaw – April 4
Bindoy is a coastal town located north of the capital city of Dumaguete.
Sinulog – Last Friday of January (Domolog, Bindoy)
The term "libod sayaw" comes from two visayan words, "libod" meaning moving
around and "sayaw" meaning dance. The whole term "libod sayaw" means
dancing in the streets along designated routes of the town of Bindoy. The
streetdancing is in honor of the town's patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer. The
festival is held together with the annual town fiesta of Bindoy which is the 4th
day of April.
Dancing ladies performing for their
patron saint.

3. Streetdancing and Showdown
Buglasan Festival – October
Sandurot Festival – November 25
Hugyawan Dalansayaw – 1st Sunday of December
Kasadya-an Festival
Kabulakan Festival – May
CANLAON CITY
Pasayaw Festival – March 19
Canlaon City is situated on the eastern side of Mt. Canlaon in the Province
of Negros Oriental.
A combined word of "Pasalamat Pinaagi sa Sayaw" (thanksgiving through
dance), Pasayaw expresses joy and jubilation in praise and thanksgiving to the
Almighty God through the intercession of St. Joseph. Streetdancing and
showdown in honor of the patron, St Joseph the Worker. Presentation is highly-
influenced by the MassKara Festival of Bacolod , where a common recorded
music, usually a samba, is used by all contingents. Past Pasayaw Festivals
used vegetables and other crops, by way of thanksgiving for the bountiful
harvests that make Canlaon City the vegetable bowl of the Province. Highlight
of the city fiesta.
DUMAGUETE CITY
The city is known as City of Gentle People.
Buglasan Festival - October
These festivals are highlights of fiestas everywhere in the province. Two of these are school-based: the relatively
new HUGYAWAN DALANSAYAW of Negros Oriental State University, and the KASADYA-AN December Festival
of Foundation University, at over 50 years the longest-running Mardi gras of Negros Oriental. Along with the
SANDUROT Festival of Dumaguete City, TAWO-TAWO (scarecrow) of Bayawan, YAG-YAG (egg-scattering on
the shoreline by certain sea creatures) of Cangmating, and HUDYAKA of Bais City, these festivals are secular
(non-religious) in nature. The rest are based on legends surrounding local patron saints ad religious practices:
GAPNOD of Sibulan, SINULOG DE TANJAY, SINULOG DE JIMALALUD, LIBOD- SAYAW of Bindoy,
KANGLAMBAT of Vallehermoso, NABINTUAN of Mabinay, PASAYAW of Canlaon City, AYUQUITAN of San Jose,
BUDYAS of Amlan, KASUBHAN of Santa Catalina, and KASAULOGAN of Valencia.
RODEO competition, fireworks display, street dancing and "showdown'' competition, with alluring booths
portraying the uniqueness, wealth and creativity of every locality, mixed together, to produce a crowd-drawer
show. Blended with food and agricultural fairs, and nightly cultural shows featuring young and old talents, the
result would be a great festival, a magnet to tourists and a certain source of income.
Sandurot Festival – November 25
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

4. 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. In the local language, it means
"arrival", and that's what it celebrates: the arrival of various foreign peoples and cultures to this seaside city. The
parade, organized by the barangays, displays the costumes of various immigrant cultures: Chinese, Spanish, and
Japanese, among many others. Of course, there is also the indispensable rhythmic dancing. The Sandurot
festival is comprised of the re-enactment, held right on the shore of the boulevard, street dancing, and a contest
of the different participating contingents and is usually participated by the different barangays, schools, and other
government and non-government organizations. It is a lively, colorful affair, most awaited by the citizens of
Dumaguete.
Hugyawan Dalansayaw – 1st Sunday of December
A major event that the Negros Oriental State University will celebrate this year is the Hugyawan, a merrymaking
activity highlighting the celebration of NORSU’s Founders’ Day celebration.
It is Dumaguete City’s most awaited street dancing competition. Hugyawan
comes from the Cebuano term “hugyaw” is a condensation of the phrase
“hugot sa pagbayaw”, which literally translates to sincere tribute or heartfelt
offering to God, country and culture and to ourselves. On the cultural front,
“hugyaw” means “to make very loud noise using drums and other musical
instruments or any other indigenous materials that would make varied types
of noise” Making noise is done while dancing, jumping and parading on the
streets. It is participated in by all the campuses of the NORSU System
NORSU celebrates 'Hugyawan' in the province of Negros Oriental. For this
year, NORSU will celebrate its 77th Founders’ Day. The celebration starts on
November 29 and will end on December 3. The first day will include such major activities as General Academic
Convocation and the “Mr. & Ms. NORSU Pageant”. The second day marks the opening of intercampus sports and
athletics, as well as cheering and cheerdance contests. The third day focuses on sports and athletics and choir
competition. The fourth day focuses on ball games, cultural shows and various alumni activities. The Hugyawan
comes in on the last day. Hugyawan is a jovial celebration of the rich cultural legacies and legends, as well folk
practices of Negros Oriental. Dramatized through chants and street dancing accompanied by drumbeats and
various kinds of noises.
Kasadya-an Festival
The annual Kasadyaan Festival is celebrated at Foundation University this
year from December 15 to 17. As Foundation University celebrates, it also
acknowledges the community it serves. It has shared its history with its alumni
and friends, and it hopes to give back to the nation by aiming at a bigger
sphere of influence in Asia, by offering its educational program to its Asian
neighbors in China, Indonesia, South Korea, and other countries. Kasadya-an
means to "make merry", and in this season of hope and love, it is a fitting
preparation for Christmas and the New Year. This is the time to take stock of
the gains made in the year that is about to end and to take on new goals and
challenges for the year to come.
Kabulakan Festival - May
A movable event, featuring mainly local beauties escorted by film star.
Streetdancing and showdown presentations play on the attributes of Our Lady,
such as Reina de las Flores, though other traditional santacruzan characters are
not employed.

5. GUIHULNGAN
Sinulog De Bagawines – May 16
Guihulngan is one of the topics in focus at Global Oneness
Old folks tell of fishermen who went off for
their usual catch. They meet a terrible storm. Meanwhile, the villagers waited
until night but no fisherman returned. Worried, they scour the beach and find an
old chest floating ashore. Upon opening, they find an image of the Santo Niño.
They venerate it and seek divine intercession for the safe return of the
fishermen. Not long after, the fishermen do return, safe, with tales of a
frightening encounter with a fierce storm. The villagers erupted into celebration,
in gratitude to the Holy Child for keeping their kin safe.
JIMALALUD
Sinulog De Jimalalud – January 13
Jimalalud is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental,
Philippines.
Born from widespread devotion to the Santo Niño, the festival follows the more popular
sinulog traditions including the religious conversion of the Moro population. Staged
January 13 as a fiesta highlight. Streetdancing and a grand showdown dramatize the
Santo Niño's presence in the varied pursuits of Jimalalud's different sectors; the festival
preludes the town fiesta honoring the Holy child; another crowd-drawing highlight is the
rousing traditional horsefight.
PAMPLONA
Kasulad Festival – December 23
The town of Pamplona sits on the mountain range that divides the two
provinces of the island of Negros.
The term "kasulad" comes from the first syllables of the three tools used by the local
farmers to harvest their crops. "Kawit" is a container for "tuba" or coconut wine with a
curve handle used to hook the container to the shoulder of a "tuba" gatherer. "Sungkit" is
a long bamboo pole with a sharp sickle to harvest coconut fruits. "Lading" is a very thin
type of bolo, the lightest among all types of short swords used in cutting and harvesting
sugarcanes. Kasulad festival is referred to as the season of merrymaking in the town of
Pamplona. It is held on the 12th of October highlighting the town fiesta as a form of
thanksgiving to God for the bounties of harvest. Streetdancing and showdown are the
main features of the festival.

6. One of the colorful entries during
the festival showdown held at the
town plaza
Yagyag Festival – Last Sunday of April
Gapnod/Fluvial Procession – June 12
Pictures of the colorful and unique
Yag Yag Festival.
SAN JOSE
Ayuquitan Festival – May 7
The municipality of San Jose is located north of the city of Dumaguete, the
capital of Negros Oriental.
The municipality of San Jose was formerly called "Ayuquitan", a name that was
born due to a communication problem between the natives and Spanish
Conquistadores. The story was that one day a group of Spaniards searching for
flourishing communities came upon a group of natives harvesting rice. The
Spaniards approached the natives and asked the name of the place while
pointing to the ground filled with piles of rice chaffs. The natives thought they
were asked for the name of the pile and answered "Inoquitan". From then on,
the Spaniards called the place "Inoquitan". In time, the name "Ayuquitan" was
adapted from the phrase "may inoquitan". This story is the theme for the town's
colorful festival--the Ayuquitan festival. It is held every May 7, one of the
highlights of the town fiesta which is celebrated on May 10. Streetdancing and
showdown are the main features of the festival.
SIBULAN
Cangmating hugs part of the shoreline of the town of Sibulan.
Yagyag Festival – Last Sunday of April
Cangmating is a small barangay of the town of Sibulan situated along its
coastline. In this area, the "cagang" or land crab (cardisoma carniflex) and the
"alalasan" (episesarma singaparense) are plenty during the last quarter of the
year. Thousands of these creatures crawl out of its habitat at night to mate and
lay their eggs along the shoreline and riverbanks. The spawning process is
locally referred to as "pagyag-yag". At the start of this season, the local residents
bring out their bamboo baskets, crab traps and coconut -frond torches to gather
the matured crabs which they cooked and sold or bartered for farm crops from
the neighboring barangays. To honor this practice and tradition, the barangay
government initiated a festival held every last Sunday of April to highlight the
barangay fiesta of Cangmating on May 1. The movements of the crabs during
the courting, mating and laying periods are the themes of the streetdancing and field presentation during the
festival. To date, the Yag Yag festival has won a national competition held in Manila, Philippines and was judged
as the champion of the Philippine festivals. The festival was also brought to Japan where it was shown to the
Japanese to promote tourism for the province of Negros Oriental.
Gapnod/Fluvial Procession – June 12
Legend has it that the image of San Antonio de Padua was washed ashore in
Sibulan by the waves, gapnod , where it was adopted as the town's patron saint.
Every June 12 the saint is celebrated by a fluvial procession of gaily-decorated
boats.

7. A young local dancer holds on to the
icon of St. James the Greater during
the festival streetdancing.
SANTA CATALINA
Sakobhan Festival – April 24
The municipality of Santa Catalina is known by their huge Sugar cane
Plantation.
Derived from “sakob” or sheath for the bolo used in the “katubhan” or sugar cane
fields. The festival revolves around the town's sugar industry and its patron, Santa
Catalina de Alejandria. Held usually every April 24 as a fiesta highlight. The
highlights of the fiesta are streetdancing and showdown competitions, named
after the sakob , or sheath of the bolos used to work the katubhan, or sugarcane
fields.
TANJAY CITY
Sinulog De Tanjay – July 24
Tanjay has just been made into a city being a progressive town once.
"Saulog de Tanjay" is held every July 24th, the day before the city's fiesta.
Before, it was known as "Sinulog" but has been renamed to "Saulog" to
distinguish it from the Sinulog of Cebu. It features a unique reenactment of the
battle between the Christians and the Moros. The natives of Tanjay were
christianized by the Spanish friars in the name of Saint James the Greater when
they came to the eastern coast of Negros for a religious expedition. Tanjay was
regularly frequented by the Moros who had a knack in seizing the beautiful local
maidens. The natives during such battles never failed to call on their patron
saint, St. James the Greater for aid and protection. Miraculously, the Moros had
never won in any of these battles. To commemorate such historical event, the
"Saulog de Tanjay" festival was born.
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