Winners named as Bacolod 1st Rum Festival closes
Winners of various contests of the Bacolod 1st Rum Festival were awarded at the closing ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds Saturday [August 24].
Mayor Evelio Leonardia thanked major sponsor Tanduay Distillers for bringing the festival to life.
He also thanked former councilor Em Ang who authored the ordinance which declared every third week of August as the Rum Festival celebration in the city.
The mayor also thanked Nestor Mendones, chief finance officer of Tanduay Distillers, and Ro-charmaine Pahate, managing and PR director of Eggshell Worldwide Communications, for facilitating the conduct of the festival.
Leonardia noted that rum festivals are celebrated worldwide, especially in rum-producing countries, adding that it’s high time for the Philippines to do the same.
That was why Bacolod took the plunge and staged its very own Rum Festival. The city, according to Leonardia, is a “natural habitat of festivals.”
Ang, for her part, also thanked Tanduay Distillers.
“The city government of Bacolod did not spend a single centavo in staging the 1st Rum Festival. We hope to see you again next year for a bigger and better Rum Festival,” Ang said.
The last day of the festival, which kicked off last Aug. 17, featured the 5K Rum Run and a street dance competition. There was also a float parade joined by participants not only from Bacolod but also from neighboring cities and towns.
A celebratory dinner was held at the BCGC followed by an awarding ceremony. Present during the awarding was City Administrator John Orola .
The winners were:
5K Rum Run (female category) Rum Run Female Category Winners 5th place – Cherry Vee Hulleza
4th place – Cathy Tejones
3rd place – Zathea Astrid
2nd place – Grace Tejones
1st place – Jessa Mae Hillacone 5K Rum Run (male category) 5th place – Maclin Sabin
4th place – Romel Hulleza
3rd place – Joel Alcorin
2nd place – Alfrenz Braza
1st place – Erik Chersiror
Street dance competition
*Special Awards
Best team spirit – Dinagsa Zi Cadiz
Most Organized – Pahanocoy
Most Entertaining – Panaad/ NGC Jammerz Most Energetic – B Republic of Brgy. Taculing Best Float – Barangay Lag-asan Bago City
*Major awards
2nd runner-up – Barangay Pahanocoy
1st runner-up – Barangay Lag- asan, Bago City Grand winner – Barangay 35
The 5K Rum Run champions in male and female categories received P8,000 cash prize each while the 2nd placers - P4,500 each; the 3rd placers - P3,500 each; 4th placers - P2,500 each; and 5th placers - P1,500 each.
In the street dance competition, the grand winner received a P35,000 cash prize while the 1st runner-up P15,000; and the 2nd runner-up - P10,000. The winner of the Best Float award also received P5,000.
The festival was capped off with an After Party featuring Filipino rock band Sandwich, Idol Philippines finalists Dan Ombao and Miguel Odron, rapper Mike Swift, Bacolod’s Project Juan, Barbie na Doll, and Cali Island./pr