Dumaguete Feasts and Festivals - The City of Gentle People
HUGYAWAN DALANSAYAW
Dumaguete City, (first week of December, movable)
Hugyawan means “merrymaking” and is the main concept of the celebration and the presentations of the streetdancing contingents, whose members come from all parts of the province.
The main goal of Hugyawan is to showcase the unique way of life of the inhabitants of Negros Oriental, and at the same time, capture the customary response of the Negrenses towards Nature, Fate, that God has gifted him with, thanksgiving through celebration, merrymaking and revelry.
KABULAKAN FESTIVAL
Dumaguete City (3rd Week of May)
The concept of the festival is to pay tribute to the month of May, with flowers as the theme. It is the city's answer to a church-organized Santacruzan. Participated in by the different barangays in Dumaguete City, the festival started in 2007 and has become an annual summertime event of street dancing competitions, parades and fireworks. Filipino television and movie stars are invited as guests of the festival, a huge treat for the locals.
KASADYAAN FESTVAL
Founder's Week, Foundation University
Dumaguete City (3rd week of December )
Established in 1949 it is the province's oldest running-festival. Kasadyaan features an elaborately costumed mardi gras parade, the longest of its kind in Negros Oriental.
PINASKUHAN PAROL & SAYAWIT FESTIVAL
Dumaguete City, (December)
Chirstmas lantern and choral competitions participated in by the 25 local government units of Negros Oriental
SANDUROT FESTIVAL
Dumaguete City (2nd week of November, movable)
A beachfront ceremony welcomes decorated seacrafts disembarking representatives of the various races that came to enrich the multi-cultural character of Dumaguete. Streetdance and field presentations celebrate the fellowship (pakig-sandurot).
SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDER’S WEEK
Dumaguete City (August 25)
The oldest Protestant university in the Philippines, Silliman was founded on august 28, 1901 by Dr. David S. Hibbard.
The weeklong activities include pageants and exhibits, booths are put up and reunions are held to mark the establishment of the first Protestant university in the country which was founded in 1901.
ST. PAUL COLLEGE DUMAGUETE FOUNDER’S WEEK, Dumaguete City (October 24-29)
Founded October 29, 1904, SPUD is the first institution in the Philippines established by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres. Mass, demonstrations, parade, and literary musical contests mark the celebration of the establishment.