Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Tacurong
Tacurong calls its Christmas season Inugyunay, a Hiligaynon word that means to unite. In 2011 the festival lit City Hall, a belen and a giant tree, and a 2025 report shows it still opens each season with a lighting. This page gathers the history and facts parents can share with kids.
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The story of Christmas in Tacurong
Inugyunay, the December word for "unite"
Tacurong's Christmas season carries a Hiligaynon name, Inugyunay, which means to unite. A January 2012 post from the city local government described it as a yearly December festival meant to bring residents together over the holidays.
In 2011 it ran December 16 to 23. The first night began at 2 a.m., when a giant tree, a belen (nativity display), a map of the Philippines and City Hall were lit. Residents then went to the first Misa de Gallo at Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria Parish Church. Schools, agencies and community groups took turns on stage each evening.
A candy-themed City Hall opening in 2025
The 2025 Inugyunay Festival used a candy theme and opened the city's Christmas celebrations with a ceremonial lighting on the City Hall grounds. A news summary published on December 24, 2025 reported that the celebrations wrapped up on December 23.
For a picture of how a full season is laid out, the 2013 program is a useful guide. It opened December 16 at 5 PM on the City Hall grounds, had a food plaza from December 18 to 23, a carol competition on December 18, a mass wedding on December 17 and gift-giving for poor families on December 20. The closing night was December 23.
Fireworks canceled, weddings held, a bird sanctuary nearby
In 2013 the usual fireworks display was canceled. The money went into community events instead, including a Kasalang Bayan mass wedding for couples who could not afford a ceremony. Tacurong is the only city in Sultan Kudarat, with 116,945 people in the 2024 census. It became a city in 2000 and has 20 barangays. Egrets and herons nest at the Baras Bird Sanctuary, which hosted the Sultan Kudarat Bird Festival in May 2024. An undated travel guide lists the city's own Pagdayao Festival in June.
Traditions today
- Inugyunay Festival: The city's December festival, whose Hiligaynon name means to unite. In 2011 and 2013 it ran on the City Hall grounds, with evening shows at the City Gymnasium in 2013.
- Ceremonial lighting: The season opens with lights on the City Hall grounds. In 2011 a giant tree, a belen and a map of the Philippines were lit at 2 a.m.
- Misa de Gallo: In 2011 residents went from the lighting to the first dawn Mass at Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria Parish Church.
- Nightly stage programs: In 2011 and 2013, schools, agencies, barangay councils and city staff each had a night of performances, with carol contests and bands in some years.
- Food plaza: In 2013 an Inugyunay Food Plaza ran December 18 to 23 on the City Hall grounds.
- Mass wedding and gift-giving: The 2013 program included a Kasalang Bayan mass wedding and a gift-giving for poor families.
A fact for kids
In 2011 Tacurong switched on its giant Christmas tree at 2 a.m., then went straight to the first dawn Mass.
Questions about Christmas in Tacurong
What is Inugyunay in Tacurong?
Inugyunay is Tacurong's December festival. The name is Hiligaynon for to unite, and a 2012 post from the city local government described it as a yearly event that brings residents together during the holidays. A lighting on the City Hall grounds opened it in the years covered, with performances, food and community programs until about December 23.
When does the Christmas season start in Tacurong?
In past years the festival opened on December 16 with a lighting at City Hall. That was the date in both 2011 and 2013. In 2025 the festival opened the city's Christmas celebrations with a ceremonial lighting and the celebrations ended on December 23.
What was lit at the first Inugyunay in 2011?
At 2 a.m. on December 16, 2011, the festival lit a giant Christmas tree, a belen (nativity display), a Philippine map and the City Hall building. It was the start of an eight-day program that ran through December 23, with a different group performing each evening.
Was there a Misa de Gallo after the 2011 Tacurong lighting?
Yes. After the 2011 lighting, officials and residents attended the first Misa de Gallo at Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria Parish Church. Misa de Gallo is the series of dawn Masses held in the days before Christmas in the Philippines. No Mass times are given for any later year, so check with the parish.
Where is the main Christmas lighting in Tacurong?
The lighting is held at the City Hall grounds, in the 2011 and 2013 programs and in the 2025 candy-themed opening. Evening shows in 2013 were held at the City Gymnasium. Those are past venues, so families should confirm this year's with the city local government before traveling.
What was the 2025 Inugyunay Festival like?
The 2025 festival had a candy theme and opened with a ceremonial lighting on the City Hall grounds. The celebrations ended on December 23. The opening date and full schedule are not given.
How did Tacurong celebrate in 2013?
The 2013 program opened December 16 at 5 PM, with a Christmas Mardi Gras on December 15, a carol competition on December 18, a food plaza from December 18 to 23, a mass wedding on December 17 and gift-giving on December 20. The festival closed on December 23 with an awards night.
Were there fireworks at Inugyunay?
It depends on the year. A fireworks display closed the 2011 festival on December 23. In 2013 the annual fireworks were canceled and the city ran community events instead. It is not stated whether fireworks are planned this year.
What is a Kasalang Bayan?
Kasalang Bayan is a mass wedding. In 2013 Tacurong held one during Inugyunay for couples who had lived together but could not afford wedding costs. The religious ceremony was on December 17 at Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria Parish, and the civil ceremony followed on December 18 at the City Gymnasium.
Was there food at Inugyunay in 2013?
In 2013 there was an Inugyunay Food Plaza on the City Hall grounds from December 18 to 23. Individual stalls and prices are not listed for 2025 or 2026. Families should ask the city local government for the current vendor arrangements.
Besides the City Hall tree, what have kids seen at Inugyunay?
In 2011 children could see the lit tree and belen at City Hall, and the 2011 and 2013 programs included carol contests and gift-giving for poor families. No children's program is named, and no 2026 events are confirmed yet. Rally Takes the Train's Tacurong Christmas events guide will add dated events once the hosts publish them.
Where was the giant Inugyunay tree lit in 2011?
The 2011 festival lit a giant tree on the City Hall grounds, along with a belen and a map of the Philippines. The tree's height and the 2026 plans are not given. Check the city local government's announcements for any confirmed dates.
Where should we spend Christmas Day in Tacurong?
The festival programs end on December 23, so Christmas Day itself is not covered. In 2011 the Misa de Gallo at Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria Parish Church was part of the season. Families usually check with the parish for Mass times, and the city for any December 24 to 25 plans.
When is Tacurong's Christmas festival in 2026?
No 2026 dates have been confirmed by the city yet. Past programs opened on December 16 in 2011 and 2013 and closed on December 23, and the 2025 celebrations also ended on December 23. Treat those as past patterns only and check the city local government's announcements.
How big is Tacurong?
Tacurong had 116,945 people in the 2024 census. It covers 153.40 square kilometers and has 20 barangays. It is the only city in Sultan Kudarat province and was made a city in 2000. Families use it as a crossroads on the way between General Santos, Cotabato City and Davao.
How far is Tacurong from other big cities?
Tacurong is 92 km from General Santos, 96 km from Cotabato City and 178 km from Davao City. It sits at the crossroads of the Davao, General Santos and Cotabato highways, which makes it easy to reach by road for a Christmas day trip.
Does Tacurong celebrate any other festival?
Yes. A travel guide describes the Pagdayao Festival, held in June as part of the city's charter anniversary, with street dancing, trade fairs and concerts. It is not a Christmas event, and the guide is undated, so check current plans. In past years December's main celebration was the Inugyunay Festival at City Hall.
Is there a bird sanctuary near Tacurong?
Yes. The Baras Bird Sanctuary is a major nesting site for egrets and herons. It hosted the 8th Sultan Kudarat Bird Festival on May 10 to 11, 2024. No Christmas activities are described there, so treat it as a separate outing from the December festival.
What is a belen and is there one in Tacurong?
A belen is a Nativity scene, a common Christmas display in the Philippines. Tacurong's 2011 Inugyunay opening lit a belen on the City Hall grounds beside the giant tree and a map of the Philippines. The belen's size is not described, and it is not stated whether one is planned for this year.
Why does Tacurong skip fireworks some years?
In 2013 the city canceled the annual fireworks display and put on other spectacles and community programs instead. Fireworks did close the 2011 festival, so the decision seems to change from year to year.
Sources
- LGU Tacurong extols Inugyunay Festival, LGU Tacurong blog
- Highlighting Inugyunay (Inugyunay sa Paskwa 2013), LGU Tacurong blog
- Tacurong City wraps up candy-themed Inugyunay Festival, Ground News (Philstar report)
- Tacurong, Wikipedia
- Pagdayao Festival (Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat), Philippines Travel Guides