Buglasan Festival

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Karga Tapas
            Buglas is an old name of the Island which meant ‘to cut off’, it was believed that long ago, our island was part of a large mass of land which eventually was separated due to continental drift, this is why the festival of festivals of the province of Negros Oriental is known as Buglasan Festival.

Tawo Tawo Festival Mascot
            It was a six-hour ride on board air-conditioned bus 544 to Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental recently. I always see to it that I am seated in front to be able to see the beauty of our island while travelling with reliable bus driver Alex and his partner John. On a private vehicle, travel time will be shortened to four to five hours.

            Climate change is evident as we travel it would suddenly rain in one town and become sunny on the next stop, this is why a shawl would be helpful when travelling which can be worn to cover the shoulder or head.

Caving at Mabinay
            The opening of Buglasan Festival was done in three parts, it started with the Pista sa Nayon a parade of participating barangays from Dumaguete and other towns, they had a parade of roasted pigs and performed Filipino traditional dances with the Indigenous People, and the pedicab designed for the environment was also part of the parade. Visitors came like  Ms. Shalani Soledad Romulo, actor Philip Salvador, CES Board Director Atty. Anthonette Allones and Mr. Youth Philippines 2012 Ar De La Serna who were also judging that nigh for the Miss Negros Oriental.

Pedicab
with Governor Degamo
This was followed with an ecumenical service attended by different tourism industry partners with educators represented by Rafael Duhaylungsod of the TECNOS, Woodrow Maquiling Jr. for tourism officers, who read their petitions, members of different religious sects came to pray with Fr. Eric Lozada, Dean at the St. Joseph seminary delivering the message and the singing of ‘The Prayer’ by the Negrense Voice Kids. Then the formal opening salvo began with the Kahayag Dance Company’s performance as World   Champions for 2015. There was the conferring of Governor Roel Ragay Degamo as Air Force reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel 0-148790 by no less than PAF Commanding General - Major General Jeffrey F. Delgado as represented by Brigadier General Raymund DV Elefante, Air Force Reserve Commander with Governor declaring the Buglasan open.

Bayawan Booth at Sidlakan Village
Gabby Del Prado of Gabbys Bistro
the Negrense Beauties
The weeklong celebration is highlighted by the booth competition at the Freedom Park grounds and the Sidlakang Negros Village, there is the famous budbud of Tanjay where one can experience the ‘painit’ with tsokolate, cheap fashionable native bags are at Guihulngan, an interactive 3D painting at the Bais City booth where selfie enthusiast would enjoy pretending to be a sugarcane cutter or feed fish to dolphins, a walk to the wooden bridge or a butanding ride (just for photo opportunity), caving inside the replica of Odloman cave of Mabinay can be a fun experience. Amlan had birds, a civet cat, a miniature pony and an albino snake display by Dreamland Resort. Most of the booths were artistically done like Siaton, Sta. Catalina and Basay and Manjuyod, Dumaguete had a different touch being the capital city of the province it had an elegant modern-chic touch. There are festival costumes at the mall and daily talent shows and competitions at the freedom park to be highlighted on the 23rd with the street dancing competition and showdown of about 20 town festival dances at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center. Dr. Nick R. Elman, Festival Director and his Negros Occidental Tourism Council team together with Provincial Senior Tourism Operations Officer Myla Abellana and her team has indeed worked hard for the success of the Buglasan Festival.
Agta of Siaton

            Theme for the festival is ‘Building Friendship Worldwide, Opening Development Opportunities’, which is indeed timely as we work for the oneness of the Negros Island Region as we support each province as an island region ready for opportunities of development in the future

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