BACOLOD CITY – As the city government is preparing for the opening of the 3rd Rum Festival here this month, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said they would like to enhance the branding of Tanduay together with this city to enable them to become popular worldwide.
COUNCILOR Jason Villarosa, Charmaine Pahate, managing director of Eggshell Worldwide Communications Inc., Mayor Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ Benitez, and Councilor Em Ang grace a press conference on this year’s Rum Festival at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center on Wednesday, August 2. (Glazyl Masculino)
In a press briefing at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Wednesday, August 2, Benitez said that the city being home to the world’s No. 1 rum has a huge impact in terms of awareness on this city.
Benitez said that every time somebody drinks rum in other parts of the country, they should be thinking Bacolod.
“Soon maybe Bacolod may be the home of the largest, the best, and No. 1 rum,” he added.
Benitez said that councilors may probably seal the brand or the prestigious name by passing an ordinance recognizing Tanduay as a key to the city.
“Seals our place as being the home of the world’s No. 1 rum,” he added.
“We are talking not just the Philippines, but worldwide. This is another prestige for the city that we can be proud of,” Benitez said, as he thanked Tanduay for calling Bacolod their home.
Benitez said that they made a proposal with the City Tourism Office to intertwine Bacolod with Tanduay by suggesting a logo of the City of Smiles in all bottles of Tanduay.
“Attached to its brand is the place. Worldwide, you have that recognition and visual of Bacolod, part of being the No. 1 rum in the world. Maybe we can work out on something,” he added.
He said that this will bring a lot of attention and tourists for the city.
Councilor Jason Villarosa said the city has allocated P340,000 to support this year’s festival from August 12 to 20.
Charmaine Pahate, managing director of Eggshell Worldwide Communications Inc., said that she has no idea about the total amount allocated by Tanduay for the event.
“It’s a collaboration of different companies but Tanduay is primarily the one contributing,” she added.
The festival was first staged in 2019 to pay homage to the sugarcane industry of Negros Occidental. But it was called off in the next two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last year, the festival returned, refueling the city’s tourism economy.