SANYOG MANAPLA: The FIESTA in the land of PUTO and DINUGUAN

More than Puto and Dinuguan
A GRAND CULTURAL-RICH AND SECTORAL FIESTA IN MANAPLA

 EVENT | TOWN FIESTA

In Manapla, a town one-hour drive from Bacolod going to North of Negros, August is the most exciting, colorful, and vibrant month of the year. It's aside from the BER months which Manapla also celebrates with glee. 
And why August? The town's patron saint St. Roch's, feast falls on August 16 and in lieu with this Manaplahanons get to celebrate their annual fiesta that now goes beyond religious practices but also now commemorates culture, heritage and living legacies. 

Manapla's fiesta has evolved into a more modern approach but with focus on on the livelihood of the people like farming, fishing, puto making, dinuguan cooking, art and more.
Innovation has changed how Manaplahanons celebrate fiesta. Powerful sound systems, music sync to hi-tech lights and  large LED monitors don the stage. However, the heart of the festivity is more than just these innovative visuals. Under the leadership of Mayor Escalante, councilors and municipal staff, they opted a different approach. A myriad of activities were lined up for different sectors of the municipality. 

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This sectoral kind of fiesta encompasses different members of the community from the children to the youth to adults to senior citizens, women, LGBT members and more.
Geographically Manapla is beside the sea. So, the fishermen had their boat race (bangkarero). It is a salute to the fishing sector that thrives in the town. The sport lovers got to see action in the ring through boxing at the plaza, basketball league and biking events that showcased the sporting abilities of local and individuals in Negros island who were invited to join. The party lovers, meanwhile, were treated with nights of music from well-known acts, DJs and bands from Manila. 

The local artists were also given a platform to showcase their raw talents through an art competition which, again, is a success as the artworks were so done well. The LGBT+ community of Manapla had their fun evening by showcasing costumes inspired by the products of Manapla.

On the last day of the the 154th Manang Pula Festival, despite some setbacks like an occasional brownout and rain, the events were resounding success. Merrymakers were treated to a thousand free Manapla puto and a bowl of dinuguan cuisine. There was happiness and fun! It was an infectious fun! It was evident in the vigor and smiles of participants of the puto cooking and dinuguan contest as well as in the participants of the Manang Pula dance showdown which had 12 entries from different barangays. The dancers and prop people braved the heat to perform in the street and arena dance competitions. The performance and the announcement of the results were shot live in social media through influencers Arkipila Go, Couple Feet and I Love Manapla.

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HERE ARE THE RESULTS:

Street Dance Competition 

2nd Prize - Brgy Purisima
1st prize - Brgy. 1A
Champion - Brgy 1                                      

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Most Disciplined Tribe - Brgy. Punta Mesa
Best in Costume Design -  Brgy. San Pablo 
Best in Manang Pula in Character - Brgy. 2-A
Best Bernardo in Character - Brgy 1-A
Best in Production Design - Brgy. Punta Salong
Best in Choreography - Brgy 1 A

Best in Arena Dance Competition  

2nd Place - Brgy. Punta Mesa 
1st Place - Brgy. San Pablo  
Champion - Brgy. 1-A 

Many OFWs went to home to experience again the fun and food. Surrounding the plaza were the usual features of a festival: food park, ukay ukay tents, rides and others. On the eve of the fiesta, the Manapla National High School also spent their homecoming/reunion gathering and show at the public plaza.

TANDUAY RUM FESTIVAL (FOOD PARK WALKING TOUR and MORE)

TANDUAY RUM FESTIVAL
FOOD TRIP AT THE PARK

   EVENT | 9 DAY CITY FESTIVAL 

Go eat! Go drink! Go Drunk! Go Enjoy! But don't sin! 
The Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival is a merriment that targets not only rum aficionados but also the entire family who want to take a respite and break from life's monotony away from home. 

Despite the event's title, the Rum Festival actually is a merriment that also targets everyone. The food park Bacolod City Government Center is the hub of the festivity.
During this time, different street food kiosks are lined up to tame everyone's gastronomic demands. 

Name it and you have the famous Bacolod Chicken Inasal leading the array of grilled cuisines. With hotdogs to isaw to pork bbq and more, unli rice is up for grabs as well as free soup to complement them. While  those who love talaba (oysters) so much , won't be disappointed as kiosks have those fresh ones, too. Right there and then, after you choose what you desire, it's up for waiting and grilling time before the eating begiins. Well, as the song goes, smoke gets in your eyes, literally.

Two giant balloon replicas of Tanduay bottles were installed and  lighted up at the BCGC park grounds while barrels of the famous rum maker adorned the Bacolod letters icon. At the entrance of the food park, there's an Instagrammable wall that greets everyone. The wall is painted with a visual story about Filipino and Bacolod culture, focusing on bayanihan, blue collar job employees seemingly preparing and sharing food and, well, drinking a beverage (which we assume is Tanduay).

Meanwhile, walking around the food park, you get to meet some pretty Tanduay promo models in their red and white dress, duo musicians who plays pop and classic music, friendly security people, and ukay ukay sellers. Of course, as the name suggests, you get to see bartenders inviting you to taste their mixes of alcohol drinks (not for free).

The Bacolod Rum Festival started in 2019 and returned after the pandemic in 2022. Usual activities include, Rum Barrel Painting contest, Flairtending & Mixology Competition, Rum Education Day (Field Trips to Tanduay plant in bacolod), Culinaria Competition, Parade and Street Dance Competition, Motorcade of Tanduay's Ambassadors and Special Guests, Food Park, Music Festival and it usually culminates with a free concert at the BCGC grounds like Ely Buendia of Eraserheads who performed on August 19, 2023. For year 2023, Juan Karlos and Allmost Music will sing their hearts out LIVE at the BCGC where the Rum Festival food park is located.