For the first time, Himamaylan City has stepped into the national spotlight as one of the key venues for Pasinaya Festival 2025, the country’s largest multi-arts festival, with over 800 artists and performing groups from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao participating.
Historically known for its resilient people and rich history, Himamaylan has, however, overcome past challenges, including armed conflict. As the scars of conflict fade, the city is now reshaping its future through creative expression, uniting its people around artistic revival and cultural ambition.
Carmencita J. Bernardia, department manager of the Cultural Exchange Division at the Cultural Center of the Philippines told Brigada News Philippines on Saturday, February 1, that culture is the soul of being Filipino, and art serves as an expression of that culture.
“Filipinos excel in the field of culture and the arts. Around the world, Filipinos are recognized as great artists. We must do our part by promoting and nurturing our unique forms of art and supporting our artists,” she said.
The CCP organized the festival, celebrating the artistic spirit of the city and placing Himamaylan on a national stage alongside renowned cities for two days, running from February 1 to 2, 2025.
The festival also took place simultaneously in Sorsogon, Iloilo, Tagum City, Batangas City, and various locations across Metro Manila.
In Himamaylan alone, over 800 artists and groups from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao contributed to the festival, making it a vibrant celebration of diverse talents, Bernardia said.
The Pasinaya Festival has given local talents a platform to shine, from folk dancers reviving age-old traditions to young painters, musicians, and other artists pushing creative boundaries, she said. “Without it, we would also lose our identity as Filipinos.”
Goes global
In a statement, CCP President Kaye C. Tinga expressed excitement over the festival’s global reach, reinforcing that Pasinaya 2025 not only showcases the Philippines’ cultural heritage but also fosters international collaborations.
This year, the festival expands globally, featuring performances, workshops, and exhibitions in CCP’s Manila complex and partner venues across the country, including Himamaylan. With the theme “Para Sa Lahat,” the festival brings Filipino talent to a worldwide audience, CCP said.
Meanwhile, Himamaylan Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson called the Pasinaya festival a significant blessing for the city. “Pasinaya is more than just a festival; it’s a powerful statement that Himamaylan is stepping up,” he said, emphasizing how the city’s participation nurtures local talent and builds a lasting cultural legacy.
“Our goal is to support artists not just today, but for years to come. We want young Himamaylanons to see the arts as more than just a hobby—it can be a legacy,” he said.
The festival has transformed Himamaylan’s streets, plazas, and performance spaces into vibrant cultural hubs, where the arts become more than just performances.
From murals to music, dance to craft, every corner of the city celebrates creativity and makes the arts accessible to all, especially the next generation of Himamaylanons.
Some of the participants included the Mindanao State University Chorale, Cebu Normal University Rondalla, Holy Name University Chorale, Mindanao’s Bunnal Ugnayan, WVSU’s Teatro Tayo, Guangming College Siddharta Theater Ensemble, Barosoain Kalinagan Foundation Incorporated, and Kabankalan City’s Teatro Kaban, among others.
Himamaylan not only celebrates art but also asserts that art and culture drive the heartbeat of a thriving city. The journey has just begun, and for Himamaylan, the future of the arts remains bold and bright, Tongson said.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.