City officials and organizers of the 5th Bacolod Rum Festival at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby on Wednesday.*
The Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival 2025 is set to take place at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds from August 28 to 31.
This year’s festival, themed “Natatagong Galing” (Hidden Talent), promises a celebration of the city’s rich rum and sugarcane heritage, featuring a blend of music, food, and culture.
A major draw will be the Music Festival on August 30, with performances from artists like Amiel Sol, Robledo Timido, Zack Tabudlo, and the Mayonnaise Band. They will be joined by Tanduay Ambassadors Derek Ramsay and Julia Barretto.
The festival will also feature a food park, a rum appreciation night, a motorcade of brand ambassadors, a parade and street dance competition, and culinary showcases featuring local food paired with premium rum.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya, at the launching of the 5th Bacolod Rum Festival at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby on Wednesday, said it is more than a series of events.
“It is a celebration of our sugarcane and rum heritage. Rum is not just a drink here; it is a living symbol of our history,” he said.
“From the fertile fields of Negros to the distilleries that transform sugarcane into world-class spirits, rum has sustained our economy, flavored our festivities, and inspired our creativity for generations,” Gasataya said.
Bacolod has something truly special to share because its very own Tanduay, a Filipino brand, has been the world’s number one rum for the eighth consecutive year, he said.
The festival will be held at no expense to the city government that will only be providing the venue, the mayor also said.
This year’s theme, “Natatagong Galing,” perfectly reflects the spirit of Bacolod and the Filipino people, he said. “We are a city and a nation full of hidden talents, skills, and creativity, ready to be seen and celebrated,” Gasataya pointed out.
Gasataya also noted that another role of the festival is rum education.
“This is our chance to deepen appreciation for rum as part of our heritage, and to share knowledge on how it is crafted, how it is best enjoyed, and how it contributes to the growing Philippine cocktail culture,” he said.
Bacolod Councilor Em Ang, author of the city ordinance creating the rum festival, also pointed out that there are many ways of using rum in food.
She said the festival is getting bigger every year. “We are happy that it is creating not only tourism and economic activities but promotes art and culture as well,” she said.
“The festival was born out of our intention to promote Bacolod outside of Bacolod as the home of the world’s number one rum. As the city where our proudly Philippine-made rum products are made,” she said.
“As we unite together to watch and enjoy the many activities prepared by the event organizers led by Charmaine Pahate and her Eggshell Team, and our local Acidz Team led by Rodney Ascalon, I am 100 percent sure that we will be amazed by this year’s Rum Festival,” she said.*