Tanduay Bacolod Rum Fest Set for August 10-18 With "Ambagan" as Theme

The theme of the fourth Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival, "Ambagan," honors the various roles that individuals play in fostering a sense of community. This year's event, which runs from August 10 to August 18, promises excitement, art, music, and food for everyone to enjoy.

The feast, which has been held yearly since 2019, began as a tribute to the city's sugarcane, which is the primary source of Tanduay's award-winning rums.

“On this same ground, my father, Lucio K. Tan Jr., together with Councilor Em Ang, announced the inception of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival. The festival was born out of a desire to ensure that Bacolod, the City of Smiles, remains the heart and home of Tanduay. That wherever Tanduay goes, Bacolod will always be a part of its story. What’s remarkable about this collaboration is that we are able to tell the story of Bacolod and Tanduay by highlighting their culinary heritage and the artistic prowess of the Bacolodnon, whether in cocktail-making, painting, music, or dance. That, in essence, is what this Rum Festival is all about.” ~Lucio Tan III, President, LT Group and Tanduay Distillers, Inc., 

Prior to a press conference with the entire house hosted at the Century Park Hotel in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Tan also mentioned Tanduay's excellent cooperation with the local government in organizing the yearly festival. 

“On behalf of our City Government led by our beloved Mayor Albee Benitez, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support. Together, we have built a celebration that not only honors our heritage but also paves the way for future generations to appreciate and cherish. Supporting initiatives like this festival is crucial in preserving our culture and boosting our local economy.” ~Councilor Em Ang, Chairman of Bacolod City History, Culture, and Arts

Participants are invited to contribute in a variety of ways throughout the festival, including through the visual arts, food, and more. The festival will begin on August 10 with a motorcade to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), where local dignitaries, including Mayor Albee Benitez, are anticipated to grace the Food Park's ribbon-cutting ceremonies. The Food Park will have mixology, local and international cuisine, and nightly entertainment. The Food Park will remain open through August 18, the festival's final day.

A Mixology Competition is scheduled to occur at the Ayala Malls Capitol Center on August 12. The Culinaria Competition will take place on August 14–15. August 16 is Rum Education Day. The national finals of the Mixology Competition will take place at the Seda Hotel, after a Tanduay Plant Tour and a Rum Masterclass.

On August 17, there will be a street dance competition and a concert at the BCGC in the afternoon, followed by a motorcade parade with some of Bacolod's beauty queens, led by Tanduay Brand Ambassador Derek Ramsay. This year's concert lineup will be headlined by the bands Juan Karlos and Almost.

For more information about the festival, visit on Facebook.

Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival 2022 Announcement & 5th Consecutive World's Number 1 Rum Award

Lucio Tan III, Tanduay Distillers, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer (left) and Hon. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez of Bacolod City answer questions from the members of the media during the press launch of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival 2022 at the New Government Center (NGC)

The City of Smiles and the World’s Number 1 Rum have joined forces again to host the country’s Rum Festival. In a press conference, the Bacolod City Government and Tanduay announced their partnership in staging the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival from August 12-20.

Hon. Mayor Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez, of Bacolod City (standing) welcomes Lucio Tan III, Tanduay Distillers, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer and other guests during the press launch of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival 2022. This is the second time that the City of Smiles will host the rum fest.

Lucio Tan III, Tanduay Distillers, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer (standing) with Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez during the press launch of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival 2022, to be held from August 12 to 20

Bacolod and Tanduay first staged the festival in 2019 to pay homage to the province’s sugarcane industry. It was called off in 2020 and 2021 because of the global pandemic. This 2022, Tanduay saw it fit to hold the Rum Festival again to bring attention back to the sugarcane industry and refuel the city’s tourism economy.

 

“We are excited to work with the new Bacolod City Government in bringing attention to the important role of Negros Occidental’s sugarcane economy in the steady growth of Tanduay overseas and the international awards it has received.” ~Lucio Tan III, President and COO of Tanduay Distillers, Inc. and Vice Chairman of the Lucio Tan Group (LTG)

 

Tanduay has been on a winning streak in the most recent years. Recently, the company has been declared the World’s Number 1 Rum brand by Drinks International Magazine for five consecutive years. It has also received the Brand of the Year Award from the London-based World Branding Awards for seven straight years.

(L-R): Atty. Carlu Fernandez, General Counsel, Philippine Airlines; Kyle Tan, Executive Vice President, Tanduay Distillers, Inc.; Lucio Tan III, President and COO, Tanduay Distillers, Inc.; Hon. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, Mayor of Bacolod City; and Hon. Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez, Mayor of Victorias City

(L-R): Kyle Tan, Executive Vice President, Tanduay Distillers, Inc.; Lucio Tan III, President and COO, Tanduay Distillers, Inc.; Hon. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, Mayor of Bacolod City; and Atty. Carlu Fernandez, General Counsel, Philippine Airlines

A Prelude to the Masskara Festival

 

The Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival will be a fitting prelude to the Masskara Festival, which we will be staged again in October. 

Since his election to office, Mayor Benitez has been drumming up investor confidence in the City. Tanduay is one of the first companies that has responded by initiating the Rum Festival to help boost tourism and drive businesses' return to normalcy. 

 

Bringing Out the Best of Bacolod

 

To be held from August 12-20, the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival will also showcase the craftsmanship, skill, and artistry of Bacolodnons through various events such as the Barrel Art, Bottle Design, and Street Art Competitions.

  

Bacolod’s famed culinary culture will also be under the spotlight through the highly-anticipated Culinaria Competition. Throughout the festival, there will be a food park for visitors to enjoy various dishes. An exciting Flairtending and Mixology contest will likewise take place. 

 

The highlight of the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival will close with music and dancing at the NGC Complex. There will be a Street Dance Fusion and Float Competition and a rock concert to be headlined by a surprise list of guest artists from Manila.

 

To learn more about the Tanduay Bacolod Rum Festival, follow its official Facebook account.

Tech Savvy Lucio Tan III Leads Tanduay’s Continued US Market Growth Amid Pandemic, Eyes Europe Distribution in Q4

Tanduay Distillers’ Inc. president and chief operating officer Lucio Tan III, a software engineer, has been aggressive in bringing the Filipino rum to more customers worldwide, making it available not just through traditional marketing and selling but tapping into online channels as well.

Now headed by Lucio Tan III, the third-generation scion to one of the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates, Tanduay continues to successfully enter new international markets. Most recently, it inked deals with the largest US wines and spirits distributors, Johnson Brothers and General Beverage.  The third-generation scion to one of the Philippines’ biggest conglomerates is at the forefront of bringing the Filipino rum to more customers worldwide.

Even as most businesses are reeling under the effect of the pandemic, Filipino rum maker Tanduay’s growth continues on an upwards trajectory. A software engineer, Tan’s direction for the 165-year-old Tanduay business is to bring it to more customers worldwide, making it available not just through traditional marketing and selling but tapping into online channels as well.

Tanduay can now be found in Hawaii, Nevada, Wisconsin, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Tennessee, and Michigan, and in the territory of Guam. It is also available in China and Singapore and will be available in Europe by the end of the year. Tan's direction for the 165-year-old Tanduay business is to push toward a more visible international presence using traditional marketing strategies and tapping into tech-driven or digital channels as well.

“Even before the pandemic, we were already working on making Tanduay available through tech-driven channels. Last June, we launched an online selling site for our Filipino customers, shots.ph. In the US, we have partnered with Caskers and Flaviar, and we are also available through the online sites of our distributor-partners. When we market Tanduay internationally, we are also highlighting the craftsmanship of the Filipino. Tanduay is a product that we can proudly say is Philippine-made—from the sugarcane, it uses to the unique distilling process it undergoes. These are all products of the Filipino’s hard work and ingenuity. We’re combining our traditional practices in rum-making with new ways of marketing our products.” ~Lucio Tan III, Tanduay Distillers’ Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer, a Software Engineer, a Graduate of Stanford University

Tanduay takes pride in delivering the highest quality products by ensuring its sugarcane source and maintaining its efficient distillation process. As one of the biggest and most recognizable brands in the country, it pays homage to Filipino craftsmanship as it dominates the global market.

Tanduay’s push toward a more visible international presence started in the 2000s. Its more recent initiatives in the US included a partnership with the Golden State Warriors, making it the first Philippine brand to sponsor an NBA team. It had naming rights to the Tanduay Club in the Oracle Arena, and Tanduay Rum can be found at retailers in the Golden State Warriors’ blue and gold “Strength in Numbers” collectible boxes in California. Tanduay currently has its own branded bar at the Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors’ brand-new arena in San Francisco’s Bay District which opened in 2019.

Tanduay also became the official rum of the Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets. It has been a Presenting Sponsor of the 40/40 CLUB and an Associate Sponsor of the arena's Brooklyn Show platform. Tanduay also made a foray into entertainment by being one of the sponsors of the Emmy Awards, the first for any Filipino brand.

The company credits its international partnerships and aggressive marketing efforts for its domination of the international rum category. For three years now, Tanduay has been declared the World’s Number One Rum by Drinks International magazine. It has sold millions of cases worldwide, even outselling more popular international rum brands.

Tanduay mainly sources its sugarcane from Bacolod in the Visayas, which is a place known for its long history of sugarcane farming. The island is home to the country’s 100-year-old sugar milling company.

Founded in 1854, Tanduay uses the same distillation process that is employed in its now decommissioned distillery in Manila. A Master Blender, who serves as the guardian of Tanduay’s formulas, checks on the consistency and quality of the rums before they are sent for bottling and packaging.

About Tanduay 

Tanduay is one of the most-awarded rum brands in the Philippines, receiving various local and international citations. In 2017, it was declared the World’s Number One Rum by Drinks International magazine. Tanduay will hold this title for three consecutive years.

Tanduay started out as a distillery in Hagonoy, Bulacan, a province in the island of Luzon known for its heroes and craftsmen. It changed ownership throughout the decades and has been under the Lucio Tan Group of Companies, Inc., one of the biggest conglomerates in the Philippines.

Even as the years passed, Tanduay has maintained the traditional way of distilling its rums, a practice that started in its Manila distillery. It has likewise consistently maintained its product quality, ensuring that Filipinos and foreigners alike will enjoy the same taste and aroma of a Tanduay product wherever they are in the world.