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Yesterday was the opening of the long awaited provincewide celebration in Oriental Negros - The Buglasan Festival!

This event showcase the different variety of products, people and traditions of the Negros towns and cities. Unfortunately, I was not able to visit the Sidlakang Negros because of work I was able to listen to chit chats of friends having the place engulfed with people from all walks of life seeing the opening of the festival.

How it all started

“In olden times the island of Negros was referred to as Buglas, after the tall reeds that predominated. A map said to have been drawn by Diego Lope Povedano dated 1572 shows an island named BUGLAS INSULIS.

The crewmen of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, while anchored in Bohol in 1572, reconnoitered Buglas and encountered dark-skinned natives. They renamed the island NEGROS. In 1981 Foundation University and the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran of Negros Oriental, upon consultations with Bayanihan founder-choreographer Lucresia Reyes-Urtula, organized an activity that would choose the performing group to represent the province in the National Folk Arts Festival of Mrs. Imelda Marcos. The activity was called “Buglasan” in memory of the island’s beginnings, its early cultural character

Buglasan was dormant for many years until 1990, when it was revived as part of Negros Oriental’s centennial as a province. Buglasan was applied to the entire celebration. It has since evolved into a “Festival of Festivals,” bringing together the finest street dancing contingents of Negros Oriental’s twenty established festivals for a day of competitions…”

This Year’s Event

So, what’s in store for this year?

Alt hough I am not sure if I can always visit Sidlakang Negros and take peak of the grandeur of the activities, I’d go for some of the activities that might interest someone like me for some reasons.

Here are some events I’d take time to watch if I’m free -

Oct 18:
Lutong Garbo sa Sidlakang Negros - nothing beats a hungry stomach than tasting native delicacies from town to town! Don’t waste your time eating fasfood meals during this event because you’d surely miss the food the province has to offer. Of course, who wouldn’t miss the “budbod” of Tanjay which has been known by it’s equisite tasted of boiled rice in coconut milk.

Balak and Balitw Competitions - I don’t know what balitw is but I know “balak” is the traditional way how guys court the ladies before. This gives us a glimpse of how in oldent times text messaging and chat is not an esssential part of a relationship. Just a note, words from our mouth still does the magic to change someones heart.

Oct 20:
Live Band Competition - This is a good avenue of rising talents in Negros Oriental as well as showcase the love of the arts and music for this generation. Although I wouldn’t recommend the older ones to attend, why not try out the night and jam with the gang and be “young at heart”.

Oct 21:
Buglasan Rap - I wonder how this event will come out… But ey, with rap music rising in the Philipines music scene, an activity like this opens up to a lot of opportunities.

Oct 22:
International Students Night - Check this out! I dont remember this event last year… Hopefully this activity opens the eyes of both local and international students of Dumaguete being a University town not just because of the area being filled with schools but that they belowng to a school where education is a main priority.

Oct 24:
Festival of Festivals Show Down & Festival of Festivals Streetdance - these 2 goes hand in hand. WItness the color and arts of the Negrenses as they showcase their town’s traditional dances ( not sure though…) and artistry in the streets of Dumaguete City.

Oct 25:
Cheerdance Compeditions - I’ll go to this activity because some of my friends are in the competition.

Oct 26:
Outstanding Oriental Negrense Awards
Chinese Pyrotechnics Exhibition

The last two I guess are an opportunity to see the beautiful fireworks as a closing remark of a long celebration and thanksgiving. And presenting the awards to outstanding awards is an oportunity to showcase not just beauty and grandeur of Negros but also a place where outstanding people live and dwell.

What are you waiting for?

Be here or be square! This is an event you cant miss and an opportunity to travel in Negros with an exciting event going on. I tell you, coming over here is and will never be a waste of time,effort and money!



Special thanks to the following sites -

http://www.negor.gov.ph/
www.skyscrapercity.com