Tawo-tawo Festival

The tawo-tawo or scarecrow had always been a great help to the farmers, scaring off little birds - the native maya which feeds on the ripening golden rice grains - allowing them to achieve bountiful yields during harvest time. Thus the birth of the two-tawo festival.

The tawo-tawo festival breathes life to the elements of the ricefield: the scarecrow or tawo-tawo, the maya birds, and the farmer and his wife, tilling the land. In thanksgiving, these are woven together to form a bigger protrait of the rich culture and history of Bayawan city, which is 102 kilometers from Dumaguete city, Negros Oriental, Philippines.

In the past, Bayawan was known as the rice granary of Negros. Her vast plains have seen glorious days of prolific rice harvest. Today, Bayawan city is known as the Agricultural Capital of the province of Negros Oriental.

Once you feel the festival's rhythm and beat, you'll find that you have imbibed it and are now heady with playful excitement. Down the main national highway, all the contingents, in creative costumes are stree-dancing. Tong-tong-tong-tong, goes the drumbeat. It is a thrilling whirl and twirl of color and choreography, motion and commotion.

The pageantry was so infectious that oftentimes onlookers join in the revelry with such abandon, fun, and caramaderie. Everyone can get caught up in the exuberant gaiety of the explosion of creative talent, colors, spectacular revelry, and frabulous costumes.

For Several years now, the tawo-tawo festival has drawn mixed crowds of local and foreign tourist to witness the street dancing and field presentations. Beyond doubt the revelry of colors and showcase of costumes in the festival has remained one of the most exalting esperiences for the city and tourists alike.

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