Jimalalud — 'Little Big Town' & Hambabalud Festival
Jimalalud, Negros Oriental · about 88 km from 3ACs Apartment, Talisay City
One of the oldest towns on the north coast, with its own Hambabalud Festival.
About
Jimalalud calls itself the 'Little Big Town'. Founded around 1800, it is one of the oldest towns on Negros Oriental's north coast, stretched between La Libertad and Tayasan along the Tañon Strait. Its Hambabalud Festival dancers take part in the provincial Buglasan Festival in Dumaguete. Stop for the coast road views and a meal on the way north.
History
Created as a settlement in 1781 together with Jinoba-an (now La Libertad) and made a municipality in 1800. In 1944 the town was burned during the war, so few old buildings survive.
Why visit
A quick north-coast stop with deep history.
How to get there
About 97 km (2 hours) north of Dumaguete on the national highway.
- Bus Dumaguete–Guihulngan route
Prices (estimates)
- FestivalFree
Hours / best time: Daily
Nearby places
- La Libertad Beaches & La Limar — Quiet Tañon Strait beaches and the stone-and-bamboo La Limar resort.
- St. Anthony of Padua Church, Tayasan — An old north-coast parish dating from 1849, mother town of Ayungon.
- Kansalakan Enchanted River — A deep green highland river with small cascades, natural tubs and a cliff-jumping pool called 'The Eye'.
- Hinakpan Mystical Hills — Over 200 cone-shaped green hills in the clouds — Negros's own 'Chocolate Hills'.
- Ban-ban Forest, Ayungon — One of the last virgin forests on Negros, in the hills above Ayungon.