The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Bacolod City is gearing up for another exhilarating Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival, set to take place from August 10 to 18 at the Bacolod City Government Center. As Tanduay Distillers, Inc. celebrates its 170th anniversary, this year’s festival promises to be the most memorable yet.
Now in its fourth installment, the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival is a vibrant testament to Bacolodnons’ love for booze, food, and music. The festival will feature an array of exciting activities, including flairtending and culinary competitions, a rum masterclass, parades, and street dancing. Attendees can look forward to Rum and Music Nights every day at the Food Park of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), where most events will be held.
The highlight of the festival is the annual concert, which has previously seen performances from original Pilipino music (OPM) powerhouses like Sandwich and Ely Buendia. This year, Tanduay is upping the ante by featuring two sensational headliners: the rock band Juan Karlos and the hip-hop quartet ALLMO$T.
Joining the festivities as Tanduay Brand Ambassador is actor and athlete Derek Ramsay. His presence adds star power to the event and reflects Tanduay’s commitment to excellence and celebration.
Bacolod, known as the sugar capital of the Philippines, is home to over 190,000 hectares of sugarcane plantations essential to rum production. “Bacolod is one of the provinces or cities that has the biggest consumption, compared to all other branches in Visayas and Mindanao,” said City Councilor Em Ang during a recent press conference at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.
Lucio Tan III, President and Chief Operations Officer of Tanduay Distillers, Inc., proudly noted that Tanduay is the best-selling rum brand worldwide, a title they’ve held for seven consecutive years. Their consistently high demand has allowed them to expand to other Southeast Asian countries, the United States, and Europe.
“Bacolod, the City of Smiles, is also the home of the World’s Number One Rum. For seven consecutive years, Tanduay has held the top spot as the best-selling rum globally, according to Drink International Magazine’s The Millionaire’s Club. In 2023, we sold an astounding 23.4 million case liters, far outpacing our nearest competitors,” he said.
“Many rum drinkers do not know that most of the Tanduay rum they drink is produced in Bacolod. For a long time, the rum production in Bacolod has been there. It should be celebrated, just like many other things that we celebrate in the city,” added Councilor Ang.
Globally, August is celebrated as the National Rum Month and August 16 is celebrated as the National Rum Day.
With an expected influx of tourists, the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival 2024 is set to be a grand celebration of the city’s rich cultural heritage and Tanduay’s enduring legacy. Be sure to join us for a week of unparalleled festivities, fantastic music, and, of course, the world’s best rum.