DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Sept. 22 (PIA) -- The province is preparing for the staging of the Buglasan Festival, one of the Philippines' most colourful festivals, which will start on October 14, 2023 until October 22, 2023. 

The festival directorate led by Glynda Descuatan has lined up various exciting events that will gather champion contingents from the different municipalities and cities in the province to bring local pride through artistic talents, culture, heritage, resources and produce.

Descuatan, in a press launching held September 21, presented some major events that will bring Filipino entertainment and arts and culture to audiences nationwide to celebrate the rich traditions in the province.

The festival will start with an opening salvo on October 14 with hundreds of participating contingents in a civic-military parade to be followed by an ecumenical service, the unveiling of the new Freedom Park, opening of the 24 local government unit (LGU) Booths, and Buglasan fashion show.

The Festival of Festivals showdown, street dance, and Buglasan music street fest on October 20 will serve as the festival's highlights, said Descuatan. 

The showdown and street dance of festivals will bring in the best contingents from the province's more than 10 established festivals.

The showdown and street dancing represent the local fiestas and heritage in the LGUs.

It will be routed along Dumaguete City's main thoroughfares, with the presentation per contingent at the Lamberto Macial Sports and Cultural Center.

The expected influx of local, national as well as foreign tourists will bring in cash flow and economic surge during the Buglasan period.

With the expected rise of people during the festival period, security measures have been put in place by the Task Force Octopus of the province as well the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) including the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, and the Dumaguete City Traffic Management Office. 

The Buglasan Festival activities also include Miss Negros Oriental on October 15; Gandang NegOrense, October 16; Bulasan 2023 Singing Idol on October 17; Folk Dance Competition and Mr. & Ms. Buglasan Fitness Icon, October 18; and Flavor of Sidlakang Negros, and Multi-Breed Dogshow, Oct. 19.

Some 20 young ladies from the different LGUs will vie for the coveted Miss Negros Oriental 2023 crown this year. 

The provincial government expects Malacañang to declare October 20, 2023 as a special non-working holiday province-wide to allow the residents to watch and celebrate the Buglasan.

Other activities set to happen on October 21 are the Inter-High School Streetdance Competition, Grand Float Parade and Competition,  and Music Street Fest.

On October 22, the festival will culminate with the presentation of Hari Ng Negros and Awarding of Fireworks Display.

Descuatan said this year’s Buglasan is also co-opted with some event organizers of dullhog-downhill and endure mountain bike competition on October 7-8 in Valencia town; Festival Costume Expo at Robinsons Mall on October 7-22; 700-km endurance moto-tour on October 14-15; underwater photo competition on October 14-22; kamugnaa:art exhibit on October 14-15; and 9-ball billiards competition on October 17-21.

As part of the national event, the dullhog-downhill and endure mountain bike will be participated in by 200 bikers from different parts of the country.

For endurance mototour 700-km challenge, 250  motor riders have registered to join the trip around the province as one way of promoting tourism sites and destinations in Negros Oriental. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)