DUMAGUETE CITY — When an organizer needs room for thousands of people in Dumaguete, the answer has often been Pantawan People’s Park. Between 2024 and 2025, BNNO covered a long list of concerts, festivals and sporting events on the open waterfront along Rizal Boulevard. These are the main ones.
Concerts
ABBA Revisited (June 29, 2024). The Canadian tribute band ABBA Revisited played “ABBA Revisited: A Tribute Concert,” produced by JAVE Productions, as part of the city’s 75th charter anniversary season. Tickets went on sale at Lee Super Plaza and other outlets, at ₱1,200 for Silver and ₱500 for General Admission after a price cut. BNNO reported that concertgoers came from Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao and overseas, and stayed until the last song. It was the first time a foreign band had performed at Pantawan.
TJ Monterde at the Duma Music Festival (November 24, 2024). For the city’s 76th Charter Anniversary and fiesta, singer TJ Monterde headlined a free concert with Krysta, Krokis and local bands. BNNO reported that the crowd filled the park despite on-and-off rain. Sponsors paid for performer fees, travel, lodging, food, sound and lights. The city provided the venue, security, traffic control, medical support and cleanup.
Festivals
Sandurot Festival (September 2024). The 2024 Sandurot Festival’s Pasundayag showdown was held at Pantawan with 13 contingents: barangays (6 of the city’s 30 took part) plus school groups. BNNO’s coverage described it as the largest crowd ever seen at the park. The festival week there also included the first Sandurot Hari at Reyna pageant, the Sinina Sandurot fashion show featuring five Dumaguete designers, and a local creatives and producers market.
Dal-uy Festival. Foundation University’s lantern festival lit up Pantawan on August 31, 2024, during the school’s 75th anniversary, with lanterns floated on the water. The event returned in September 2025.
Fiesta, People’s Week and Buglasan. The park hosted the November 2024 fiesta programs, including school folk dance and Balitaw contests, plus the December 2024 People’s Week events. In October 2025, a Dragon Boat Exhibition Race was held off the park as part of the Buglasan Festival. A Bangkarera boat race followed in November 2025.
Sports
Dumaguete Triathlon (November 10, 2024). Nearly 300 triathletes from across the country took part in the 5th Dumaguete Triathlon at Pantawan, held for the city’s 76th Charter Anniversary. The race had a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride and a 10 km run, with age-group, mixed relay and open categories. It was organized with Achtung Larga Biya.
Palarong Panlungsod (February 10, 2025). The 2025 city school sports meet opened at Pantawan with nearly 2,000 student-athletes from 10 public and 15 private schools. The meet picks athletes to represent the city at the CVIRAA meet in Bayawan City.
National Milo Marathon, Dumaguete leg (March 23, 2025). BNNO called it the largest running event the city had hosted. Junob National High School won the cheer dance competition held at the park.
Fun runs. The park is the usual starting line for charity and community runs. In November 2025, “Lakang Alang sa Canlaon” raised funds and relief goods for Canlaon City after Typhoon Tino.
Tour de Cebu (November 27–28, 2025). The Tour de Cebu 1000 KM Historic Sports Car Rally brought more than 50 heritage cars, including Porsche, Ferrari, MG and Alfa Romeo models, to Pantawan for its flag-off.
Rallies and protests
During the 2025 election season, the park hosted several campaign rallies. On September 21, 2025, groups from various sectors gathered there for the “Lihok Protesta,” part of a national call to action against corruption.
For the park itself, see our guide to Pantawan People’s Park. BNNO’s editorial is “Adto ta sa Pantawan.”
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