More than 25,000 residents and visitors packed the city plaza on July 26, as Kabankalan opened its 28th Charter Day celebration, marking another milestone in its transformation from a riverside settlement into one of Negros Occidental’s fastest-growing cities.
City officials led the kickoff ceremony with fireworks, live performances, and messages of pride and unity. This year’s celebration carries the theme “With love, we serve; with care, we grow; with gratitude, we celebrate: Kabankalan at 28.”
Mayor Benjie Miranda declared the opening of the festivities alongside Vice Mayor Divina Miranda and members of the City Council. The crowd cheered during a celebrity concert featuring Anthony Jennings, Mariz Racal, Zeinab Harake, and The JUANS.
The city lined up week-long activities that include cultural shows, community programs, and civic events—highlighting the administration’s commitment to public service anchored on “Gugma kag Kabalaka” (Love and Care).
Kabankalan traces its roots to indigenous tribes who lived along the Hilabangan River. Iloilo settler Leocadio Tayum named the place after discovering an abundance of bangkal trees and helped form one of the earliest communities in the area.
The town expanded through Spanish-era missionary work, the growth of the sugar industry, and post-war rebuilding. Officials established Kabankalan as a municipality in 1907. On August 2, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 8297, declaring Kabankalan as a component city.*
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 personal blog on Medium.