LOCATION

Located along the coast of Tañon Strait, this city of 111 thousand people is strategically located at the crossroads of your major cities in the Visayas, namely: Cebu City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City and Dumaguete City. It has a long coastline that runs to 40 kilometers which is protected by the city's mangrove reforestation program while its seas are closely guarded from abuse by this active Bantay Dagat force. Nature has also endowed San Carlos City with a deep natural harbor that can take in large shipping vessels. This harbor is also protected from inclement weather by Refugio Island (Sipaway). Due to these special attributes, the Philippine Ports Authority has chosen the San Carlos City port from among other ports in the province for its expansion program in 1998 which include the reclamation of four hectares of sea to accommodate various port buildings, facilities and container vans, an extension on the eastside for two roro vessels and the extension of the length of the port to 242.5 meters.

CLIMATE

San Carlos City has (2) pronounced seasons, wet and dry. The rainy season starts from May to January with heavy rains occurring during the months of August and September. Dry season starts from the month of February up to the last week of April. December and January are the coldest months while April is the hottest.

POPULATION 

The National Statistics Office (NSO) revealed that City population has reached 118,259

LANGUAGE 

Cebuano is the major dialect spoken in San Carlos City. English and Tagalog are also widely spoken and understood especially in the urban areas.

CURRENCY/CREDIT 

CARDS Most foreign currencies can be changed in the city's banks. Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, shops and restaurants.

COMMUNICATION FACILITIES 

International direct dialing, telex, facsimile, cell phones & radio, e-mail through the Internet, worldwide express delivery, postal services and telegraph service are available.

ELECTRICITY 

Most areas in San Carlos are supplied with 220 volts and 110 volts, 60 cycles. A plug with 2 flat prongs is the norm, but pack a universal adaptor to be safe.

WATER

Water is potable. Bottled mineral water is available in most supermarkets, groceries, hotels and restaurants.

DINING

Upscale specialty restaurants as well as modest alfresco setups serve Negrense, Filipino continental and Oriental cuisines. American burger and pizza franchises and other fast food outlets can be found around the city.

NIGHT LIFE

There are a number of bars with live entertainment, video, karaoke, game rooms and discos, many of with are found in Center Mall.

GETTING AROUND

Pedicabs are common mode of transport within the city. Buses and jeepneys provide service for intertown travel.

SHOPPING

Antiques, hand woven cloth like hablon, shellcraft, ceramic ware, woodcraft, leather goods, pottery, baskets and children's garments are among the best buys.

VISITORS GUIDE

History of San Carlos

San Carlos was Nabingkalan, an arrabal of Hilub-ang (Calatrava) in the island of Buglas (Negros). Nabingkalan derived its name from Nabingka, an ebon beauty of a princess, who ruled the barrio during the early part of the 17th century. She was famous for her loveliness and mental and physical prowess. After her death, the people mourned for two years, but to perpetuate her memory, something had to be done, and that was to name the barrio Nabingkalan. So it was, as it is to this day.

On October 16, 1898, a parish priest of Calatrava, then the township under the jurisdiction Nabingkalan was a barrio, visited the place. He found it more prosperous than the town proper. So he assembled the cabesas de barangay and after a short conference, decided to name the new town San Carlos, in honor of the Patron Saint of the barrio, Saint Carlos Borromeo, whose feast day was November 4, and same day, the seat of the town was transferred to San Carlos.

Fragments of written history show that in1856, the island of Negros as a politico-military province under Spain, was divided into two provinces, the West Negros under Iloilo and the East Negros under Cebu. The barrio of Nabingkalan under Calatrava, was under the jurisdiction of Iloilo.

During the first years of the American jurisdiction of the Philippines, the economic and social phase of the activities of the people was gauged on the movements of the big landholders and spaniards in the  lowlands. In 1903, the political arena was a hot place, it is being the first taste of the Filipinos to elect their own leader. Since then, the following elections were always a sensational political drama. In 1912, when the sugar central was constructed, the economic life of the people was greatly enhanced. The political activities, however, was closely woven with that of Calatrava, until 1925, when Calatrava was organized into a municipality.

From 1903, to the last days of the administration of the Municipality of San Carlos, the following persons have served as presidentes and mayors, has each contributed in one way or another to the progress of the town:

• Jose Cervantes
• Pelagio Carbajosa
• Agustin Ylagan (4 terms)
• Domingo Medina (2 terms)
• Vicente Atienza
• Juan P. Broce (2 terms)
• Fausto Caballero
• Eugenio Antonio, Jr.

WAR YEARS:

• Juan P. Broce
• Antonio Azcona, in occupied area
• Anacleto Factoran, in free area

POST WAR:

    Appointed

• Dominador Zaragoza
• Eugenio Antonio, Jr.
• Constancio Rabacal

    Elected

• Constancio Rabacal (2 terms)
• Sofronio C. Carmona

The First World War encourage the people of San Carlos to produce more staple and sugar crops. After the armistice in 1917, the planters who produced more sugar had their wealth greatly increased because of the new price of sugar never before enjoyed by the planters. During the war, many sons of San Carlos volunteered to fight for Uncle Sam, but a few months later, were sent back home because of the Armistice.

The Second World War was partly fought in San Carlos. Barely one month after the surrender of Negros to the Japanese Imperial Forces, guerilla movement began in San Carlos and Calatrava. As early as June15, 1942, guerilla bands under the leadership of Lt. Leonardo Marane and Lt. Alfredo Valdivia began operations against the enemy. Pitch battle were fought within the environs of the poblacion. In spite of the presence of Maj. Edward McClenahan, a US Army officer in the area of San Carlos, the guerilla bands were not organized. However, with the coming home of some USAFFE officers of San Carlos, the guerilla was formally organized. Under USAFFE Capts. Catalino D. Rivera and Loreto Y. Apuhin, together with Lts. Florencio C. Yap and Andres L. Arrogante the bands of roving guerillas in San Carlos were consolidated under one command. The professionals inside the free area joined the movement. Noted among whom, were: Eufemio A. Parana and Paul G. Gores, lawyer; Dominador Cejalvo, engineer; Carlos M. Madrazo, chemist; Eugenio Antonio, Jr., labor leader and chemist; Pedro T. Algarme, college professor; and later, Oscar A. Quisumbing, Arturo A, Cruz, physicians and Lt. Fernando D. Estampador.

In the war fronts of Bataan and Mindanao, several sons of San Carlos made their supreme sacrifices. Among those who survived to tell the story that came home to continue the fight against the enemy, were: Capt. Epifanio D. Liberal, Capt. Dominador Justiniani, Capt. Porferio A. Villaflor, Lts. Teodulfo Limas, Crescencio C. Portuguez, Florencio C. Yap, Andres L. Arrogante, Nestorio L. Layumas, Federico Legaspina, Sgt. Simplicio Algarme and very few enlisted men.

In March, 1945, San Carlos saw action, when the local guerilla under the over-all command of Col. Ernesto S. Mata, attacked the Japanese garrison in the compound of San Carlos Milling Company and succeeded in driving away the enemy, at the cost of the life of Lt. Alfredo Valdivia.

Labor movement was accented by the organization of the Allied Workers Association of the Philippines, the San Carlos United Workers Association, the Philippines Land-Air-Sea Labor Union, and the defunct Anak sa Buhat. Since then, only one strike was registered, and that was in 1956.

By virtue of RA No. 2648, the Municipality of San Carlos was converted into the City of San Carlos on July 1, 1960. The City inherited from the Municipality numerous improvements hitherto unprecedented in the history of the town. The improvements were introduced by the last municipal administration under Mayor Carmona. The usual experience of a new city during the transition period  is fraught with crisis. The new city of San Carlos excepted to this rule. The herculean effort exerted by Mayor Carmona  in meeting the huge obligations of the city in the form of salaries of newly created offices and the implementation of WAPCO increases of the intermediate school teachers were easily overcome.

The Municipal Board is entirely Nacionlista. It is composed of the cream of the professionals and model citizens with spotless records. They are men dedicated to public service, without any thought of compensation, which the San Carlos City Charter does not provide, unlike other cities in the Philippines/

The following gentlemen composed the first Municipal Board of the new city:

ANTONIO M. AZCONA, Vice-Mayor and President, Planter, Sportsman

RODOLFO S. LAYUMAS, Lawyer, Sportsman

EUFEMIO A. PARANA, Lawyer, Soldier, Sportsman

JOSE L. YAP, Engineer, Businessman

LORETO Y. APUHIN, Lawyer, Soldier, Educator, Journalist

FILOMENO B. KYAMKO, Model Employee, Playwright, Dramatist

OSMUNDO V. GAVIOLA, Dentist, Sportsman

OSCAR A. QUISUMBING, Physician, Businessman, Sportsman

JULIO B. DE LA ROSA, Farmer, Barrio Lieutenant

Under the administration with Mayor Sofronio C. Carmona at the helm, and the nine gentlemen of the Board, whose unselfishness and cooperation is without peer in the history of the town, and with the help of the Almighty, the City of San Carlos may yet become a Utopia, if only their successor in the generations to come will follow their footsteps. 

NABINGKALAN: A STUDY ON METAMORPHOSIS

BY ISAAC L. YAP

Even Fray Andres Urdaneta, cruising along the mouth of Danao river in Negros in 1573, never must have thought that fifty years later, some fifty kilometers south from where he dropped anchor, the settlement of Nabingkalan would have been founded. 

 

The brood of urchins wearing mask of mud-sputtered faces and shoot-saturated shirts, that loiter presently the streets of Dos Hermanos, Remedios and Araneta, will easily call their birthplace as the City of San Carlos; the older generation, still strung with sentimentalism, prefer the old name Nabingkalan. Nabingkalan! The word carries a lot of nostalgia in its sweep. Nabingkalan gave way to San Carlos without unfurling a flag of resistance or waging a battle of etymology, but she didn't feed to the gutter of cultural abyss the beautiful legendary tales of her namesake. 

For, why Nabingkalan? wasn't the name born out of the tale of Nabingka, the legendary abony princess, whose fame for ravishing beauty and intellectual prowness constrained her people to perpetuate the memory by calling the sunkissed region after he? Or, hadn't the name been born out of a farcical poem narrating the collision of praus, probably against an ornate Maranaw vinta, giving rise to the word nabingka? Or, hadn't it derived from lush growth of bangkal, a bark producing tree, indigenous to the swampy region? Certainly, it becomes obvious that to leave to posterity the conflicting versions of the origin of Nabingkalan, without an attempt for a reconcillation or interpretation, is to make the tales more legendary, beautiful and exotic, and would be like gathering gems to enrich our folklore. 

The changelessness of change 

The historicity of Nabingkalan has struck roots in the culture patern of the people; it is traceable, definite and lasting. Its physical aspects, however, had pliantly yielded to the ceaseless tide of change. Except for the surviving coconut palms that still wave like lone sentinels along the periphery of the city, the landmarks of the former arrabal oftentimes are no longer discernible. New buildings had been mushrooming, blotting out the old and dotting the skyline with streamline architectures. The two ports for inter-island vessels and ocean liners had taken place of the former piers of crudely piled boulders and limestone anchored by sailboats from Sipaway island. The swamps had given way to vast sugarcane fields maintained by modern mechanization and chemical technology. The rapid transition to the present state is a tribute to the industry, indomitable spirit and optimism of the residents of San Carlos. 

1st City Officials | Municipal Council | Municipal Executives | Former Queens of San Carlos | Pictures of Old San Carlos

Old City Hall 

Built on the exact spot where the old municipal building of San Carlos was located. It is in the corner of Severino and Ylagan Streets with its main entrance located in Ylagan.

Aerial View of San Carlos City

San Carlos Milling Company

more pictures of old san carlos click here

THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF SAN CARLOS

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND SIGNIFICANCES OF EMBLAZONRY

(Submitted by Hon. Sofronio C. Carmona, City Mayor, to the Philippine Heraldry Committee)

Sketch by Fructuoso Valencia. CEO

The seal, (coat-of-arms) is of circular shape consisting of three (3) circumferences super-imposed one upon the other to form the circle. The outermost circumference bears the caption "City of San Carlos" on the upper portion and the word "Philippines" on the lower. Inside the circle is the emblazonry, a hexagonal figure shaped somewhat like a modified version of a medieval shield which, in turn, is divided into four (4) parts bearing the following colors: Blue on the upper left corner and white on the right; on the lower portion, white on the lower left corner and red on the right (see above sketch). The colors consist of red, white and blue - the colors bearing the same significance as in the national flag; red for courage, blue for valor and white for purity and peace. On the upper white are silhouettes of a sugar mill belching smoke and a ship upon a placid sea - the mill symbolical of San Carlos City's Main Product - sugar, while the ship informs that San Carlos City is accessible by sea, and, therefore, is a typical coastal city of commerce with wharves and good harbor. On the lower white, the silhouettes of several hills and sugar cane fields and a tractor with a driver can be discerned. The hills inform that the topographical structure of San Carlos City is composed of rolling hills interspersed by plains cultivated to sugar cane. Turn the eyes back to that ship on the upper white and the conclusion is that San Carlos lies between the mountains and the deep blue sea - which it is. The sugar cane fields and the tractor are self-explanatory - excellent agriculture and mechanized farming - proof the San Carlos City is abreast, or even way ahead of its contemporaries in farm technology. The medieval shield is impinged in the center by a pear-shaped design bearing the silhouettes of a Negros map divided into its two (2) component provinces: Negros Occidental and Oriental. The portion in black in Negros Occidental and the white dot on the northaest portion is the site of San Carlos City. Flanking the map are two (2) silhouettes of plants - the corn on the left (corn is the staple food of San Carloseños) and the sugar cane of the right. Below the pear-shaped figure can be seen the silhouettes of a wheel - symbolizing the local administration at the "wheel-of-state" - this bears the same significance as the Magsaysay Clock. The pear-shaped figure, is, in turn, coyly encircled with a white band with the caption "Nabingkalan" on the left, "San Carlos" on the right, and the year "1960" at the bottom. Nabingkalan is the original name of San Carlos, taken from the name of a daughter of the Negrito Chief - the Princess Nabingka. San Carlos was the name given by Carlos Apurado, the first Christian settler in San Carlos. R.A. 2643 authored by the late Rep. Vicente Gustilo made San Carlos a city in 1960.

CONGRESSMAN VICENTE F. GUSTILO

Architect of the San Carlos City Charter

The people of San Carlos City will forever remember him to be the man whose vision and obsession made possible the birth of a city. The celebration signifies a silent yet solemn affirmation that the late Representative of the 1st Congressional District of Negros Occidental had not labored in vain.

THE STORY OF THE CHARTER

The few intense moment before a city is born, like those few intense moments a father paces back and forth awaiting the first faint cry of a babe, are great moments of history.

The birth of the City of San Carlos was characterized with such a travail. Few will ever realize the pain, fear and frustration felt by the founding fathers which presaged the birth of a city.

Years ago, on the last night of the session of Congress when hundreds of bills vie for priority of legislation, the drama took place. Everyone had already given up hope of the possibility for the passage of the bill that would create San Carlos a city-everyone, except those few obstinate men who painstakingly labored and believed that something real good must be done to the people of San Carlos.

In spite of the unselfish efforts of Senator Dioscoro Rosales, Senator Jose Locsin, Congressman Lorenzo Teves, Congressman Agustin Gatuslao and Congressman Inocencio Ferrer, the San Carlos bill met a standstill. Sensing the predicament, the late Congressman Vicente Gustilo, main author of the bill, vowed to leave no stone unturned until the bill became a law. San Carlos Mayor Sofronio C. Carmona, like an anxious father watching every wave of circumstance that imperil the passage of the bill, stayed awake all night. He has been in the halls of Congress since 10:00 P.M. that evening and was greatly dismayed upon knowing the avalanche of bills that was to go through the legislative mill. For Congress, as everyone knows, like the gods, grinds slowly, and like a funnel, has always a bottle-neck concentrate of its bills in the last hours of its session.

Congressman Gustilo and Mayor Carmona realized too late the bill has to be certified as "urgent" by the president if it has to be treated by Congress with priority. The next move then was a lightning trip to Malacañang. Was the President there? The nation's chief executive was there, but he could not be met; he was presiding over a cabinet meeting. The two gentlemen waited for some time. Seeing no prospect, they went back to Congress. It was already two o'clock at dawn and what has remained as the flickering embers of hope threatened to have gone out, burdening their souls with a stinging sense of loss and frustration.

Mayor Carmona decided to go home-to San Carlos. He had his ticket for the return flight scheduled at 5:40 that dawn. It was now 4:30 A.M. and he started to pack up his thing. Mayor Carmona must have known at the time a thousand and one thing of the San Carlos bill, but he never must have known the fact that when he packed up his things for home, he was, indeed, packing up the dreams and aspirations of the 124,000 citizens of San Carlos.

It was 5:00 A.M., and hence, the dash to the airport. But can't he take a cup of coffee? A man who tried his best, though miserably failed, at least deserves a cup of coffee, nevertheless. For one thing Doroy Valencia might make a lot of crowing over this incident but the fact remains that a lot of histories had been made over a cup of coffee.

He settled himself cozily on a seat on a coffee canteen. The driver would not care waiting for another five minutes, he mused. The man, suddenly grown old, was sipping dreamingly the spiralling aroma of the plain, black stuff, idly dreaming no longer of the bill but of the flight home. And then the thing happened. There was a phone call. For Mayor Sofronio Carmona of San Carlos, the charming creature at the desk announced. The other end of the line was held by the tense hands of Congressman Gustilo."The bill has been passed," the voice blurled out jubilantly. The mayor, stunned in disbelief, painfully managed to ask, "How did you do it?" "I had to force my way through to the President," the voice on the other end falteringly answered," and had him certify the bill as "urgent." The mayor could not say another word. Unconsciously, he dropped the phone on the receiver. Is it a thing to wonder? Hadn't all fathers, the worlds over, behaved the same way after realizing the birth of a child?

Should there be a health contest for the seven-year olds today, San Carlos City would qualify and easily win a prize. It has grown steadily healthy all these years Seven years time has given it a lot of sinews Certainly birth is the most gripping and dramatic episode in the life of both man and city charter.

San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral Parish

100  and 8 years today. From the research of Emmanuel Luis Apuhin Romanillos. San Carlos City was still a Barrio Nabingkalan of Calatrava in 1892 when it received its first priest, Fr. Pedro Ulirete, OAR. Father Ulirete stayed only 21 days, the shortest assignment on record in the parish of San Carlos Borromeo. In this brief tenure, however, Fr. Ulirete was able to start the construction of wood and nipa church in a lot owned by Andres Bracamonte and the Broce-Apurado Family. Fr. Eusebio Valderrama, OAR succeded him. During his time, Catholicism flowered, as evidenced by tremendous marriages and baptisms recorded. Fr. Valderrama brought in the children for Doctrina Christiana instruction in a modest parochial school below the parish house. It was only in 1929, however, the arrival of Fr. Manuel Gomara, OAR, that the present Catholic was constructed. The concrete edifice rose on the generosity of the Broces and Ledesmas and other prominent families, haciendas and corporations. During his term, the Diocese of Bacolod was separated from the mother diocese of Jaro, to which San Carlos parish belonged, until the erection of the Diocese of Dumaguete on April 5, 1955.

When San Carlos City was proclaimed City in 1960, parish priest Fr. Victor Celiqueta, OAR was given coadjutors to assist in the spiritual administration of the expanded area. Father Celiqueta's departure in 1975 ended the long line of Augustinian Recollects in San Carlos.

The year 1975 saw a new secular parish priest, assistant parish priests and new programs for the parish. Father Elmo Vergara became the first diocesan parish priest with Fr. Alijandro Gronifillo as parochial vicar. The new parish priest and assistants joined in pulling together all efforts to facelift the physical appearance of church and in establishing a genuine Christian community, After them follwed other priests namely: Msgr. Benjamin Hiponia and his parochial vicars. The former priest program continued until the arrival of Msgr. Salvador T. Modesto, D.D. and late of Msgr. Tomas Avenido in 1984, and who was parish priest till the 1993. His administration saw the erection of the Diocese of San Carlos in February 10, 1988 with His Excellency Nicholas M. Mondejar as first bishop. The Cathedral became the see of the diocese. His parochial vicars before were Rev. Frs. Enrique M. Samson, Jr., then the Vicar General of the Diocese of San Carlos, Otillo Arriola, and Ricardo Pomar and Felix Martinito, newly incardinated into the diocese from OAR.

The Cathedral parish is now comprised of 18 center chapels in the rural areas and minor chapels in the urban area are grouped under the Cathedral. She also booted a total of 18 religious organizations and association of the Knights of the Altar and Lay Ministers. They formed the basic and fundamental unit of the Parish management which is the PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL, together with some person-appointees.

Then and now. The San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral parish in response to the thrusts of the local Church the Diocese of San Carlos, in here vision/mission statement, carried out varied activities by the WESTOY apostolate. Bringing this about are the priest and lay faithful of the parish with leadership and active involvement of the Parish Council. Before there were the core conduits, which served as implementing arms of the Council, such as the Parish Action Team Representing Religious Organizations against Lawlessness (PATROL), Marian Core, and Kapilya Core, under the leadership of Fr. Samson. Giving the apostolate boost were the assistants. Frs. Ariola and Martinito, in their respective apostolate.

The parish had till today a fully implemented tithing scheme. The funds are being handled by the PPC and tapped for catechetical program of operations. The parish then had a parochial newsletter called KATILINGBAN, until it became a diocesan one in 1991.

The Cathedral parish, under MSGR. Avenido's administration, flourished in faith and structural developments as the newly renovated rectory and office building for the efficient pastoral management of the parish, a beautiful Cathedral plaza, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and the annexed prayer Sanctuary.

Memorably, the parish celebrate her centennial on 4 November 1995, the faithful were witnesses to the regular grace-filled diocesan and parish events in her domain, being the See of Diocese of San Carlos. Faith has mushroomed with the establishement of Gagmay ng Kristohanong Katilingban or Basic Ecclesial Communities.

The past composition of the Lord's shepherds were: Most Reverend Nicolas M. Modejar, D.D., Bishop of San Carlos and parish priest, Rev. Msgr. Enrique M. Samson, Jr. Vicar general and parish Rector, Rev. Fr. Rannie C. Veriña, Chancellor and parochial Vicar of the parish, Rev. Fr. Hermenegildo V. Limbaga, also a Parochial vicar. Clergy helpmates were Rev. Fr. Larry Martinez, Director Commission on Youth, Rev. Frs. Victor Valencia, Daniel Parcon, Otillo Arriola & Nick Domocol, all from the Seminary.

Active proponents of the parish apostolate today is the Parish Pastoral Council composed of religious organization and movements, center chapels or Gagmay'ng  Kristohanong Katilingban.

THE LEGEND OF MIRASOL
(The City Flower of San Carlos)
by: PSDS Rogelio M. Lasco
District II - Division of San Carlos City

Brgy. Palampas is the home of the city flower of San Carlos, the MIRASOL - (Sunflower)
The story goes this way...
In the 1900, there lived a couple named Isabel and Quiriko. They lived as a couple for many
years but were not blessed with a child. They heard about San Carlos and they prayed for his
intercession to have a child. Soon their prayers were granted . Isabel gave birth to a beauteous
girl and named her Mira, which means to look at or to stare at. Wherever Mira went, people stared at her.

On her 18th year, she had three ardent suitors, a Datu who expressed his love through an English song, a Cebuano who rendered a balak and a Tagalog who sang harana.

None of the suitors was accepted by Mira for she fantasized the love of the sun and oftentimes
seen staring at it. The sun transformed into a human being named Sol (an Immortal) and tried to convinced Mira that her fantasy was impossible so he sang for her a song "Impossible Dream".

Mira got ill but doctors didn't find any cause or reason for her illness and later she died.

Before Mira's death, she requested to be buried in the cave.

In the cave where Mira was buried , a beautiful yellow flower sprouted and the natives called it MIRASOL in honor of MIRA and SOL.

Thus, the birth of the flower Mirasol or Sunflower, which the generous people of San Carlos City have chosen to be their city flower.

MISS SAN CARLOS BEAUTY PAGEANT

Miss San Carlos 2004 [Click Here]

Miss San Carlos 2003 Talent Night [Click Here]

Miss San Carlos 2003 Pageant Night [Click Here]

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Pintaflores was born out of the people's search for a cultural identity and tradition.

If Cebu City has its Sinulog, Bacolod City its Masskara, and Aklan its Ati-atihan, San Carlos City also dreamt of having its own unique festival.

In 1992, after successfully holding two activities, the Nabingkalan Tattoo Festival and the Dances of Flowers as highlights of the city fiesta, the idea of blending the two concepts to come up with a presentation that could be considered the the City's very own started what today is one of the most popular street dancing festivals in the region - the Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City.

Pintaflores is coined from the words Pintados, the concept behind the Nabingkalan Tattoo Festival, and the "flores", the Spanish word for flowers that dominated the theme of the Dances of Flowers. The Pintaflores street dancing and ritual competition highlights the annual Pintaflores festival every November 3-5.

It features rhythmic dances and dance dramas of life and death and the triumph of good against evil that depict the people's thanksgiving of merriment, abundant blessings and success. As part of the Pintados Tradition, the faces, arms, bodies and legs of the dancers are painted with flowers to express gratitude to man and his environment.

The street dancing is culminated by a dance ritual performed at the City Auditorium. Different dance steps and musical accompaniment add to the thrill of the competition. The Human flower formation is another impressive part of the dance ritual that products the ingenuity and skills of the choreographers and dancers.

Building a name on the streets of Cebu, Negros and Panay

It takes time to build. but, with Pintaflores, the time to gather frame is at a very young age.

new to the game and exposure, the first Pintaflores contingent of San Carlos City represented by Colegio de Sto. Tomas - Recoletos high school students, bested seasoned contestants to land third place in the free interpretation category in the heavinly-competed Sinulog festival in Cebu City in January 1993. In April of the same year, the group bagged the championship in Panaad Sa Negros '93, to province-wide cultural festival in Negros Occidental.

Represented by Barangays II and Quezon, the Pintaflores street dancing contingent emerged first prize in Panaad Sa Negros in 1996. The same group with the participation of Barangay Ermita bagged again the championship in Panaad Sa Negros 1997 and the fifth prize in Sinulog festival '98.

In Panaad Sa Negros '98, the Pintaflores group composed of dancers from Barangays Punao and Palampas and the City Hospital graced the fiesta presentation as guest performers. In Panaad '99. the Pintaflores represented this time by elementary school children, once again proved its unbeatable streak by emerging champions, consequently reaping the Hall of Fame award for topping the fiesta presentation event in four consecutive years.

Having established a name in street dancing, Pintaflores danced performers in such places as Iloilo City (1996) and the Roxas City (1997) as among the best of the best in the region, and in Canlaon City and Victorias in 1999 as the best in the province.

But the best is yet to come to Pintaflores as a new breed of dancers has emerged with the launching of Pintaflores Bata or Pinta Bata in 1996. A street dancing and ritual competition among elementary school children. Pinta Bata thrills one with the children's pleasing gracefulness and versatility that promises a crop of excellent dancers in the years to come.

San Carlos comes alive and colorful every November 5. Its streets become ablaze and animated by the sprightly dance of flower-painted dancers in colorful ethnic-inspired costumes as the traditional Pintaflores festival hits this its peak in a colorful and lively streetdancing competition.

After five years and many awards, including the Hall of Fame awards in streetdancing in the Panaad Sa Negros, the word Pintaflores, like "Daan Sa Kaunlaran" and Homelot program, now has become another byword of the creativity of San Carloseños.