DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental,  October 4 (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially declared October 20, 2023 as a special non-working day in the province of Negros Oriental through Presidential Proclamation No. 350. 

This is in line with the province's celebration of the Buglasan Festival on October 14-22 with over 30 events lined up for the celebration.

Buglasan Festival Director Glynda Descuatan has announced that of the 25 total local government units (LGU) in the province, 24 municipalities and cities will join this year’s LGU Fair Booth, which will be launched on October 14, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the southern part of the Capitol.

This will be followed by the biggest fashion show in the province featuring 81 young ladies and gentlemen from the 22 Miss Negros Oriental candidates, 27 Hari Ng Negros competitors, and 22 Gandang NegOrense contestants at Freedom Park on October 14, 2023 as part of the opening salvo.

The young ladies will be vying for the coveted crown of Miss Negros Oriental 2023 on October 15, while the Gandang NegOrense, a beauty pageant for gays representing each LGU, is set on October 16, and the Hari ng Negros pageant is set on October 22.

All three events will be held at Lamberto Macias Sports Center at 8:00 p.m.

Descuatan said the Festival of Festivals Street Dance and Showdown with 10 LGU contingents will serve as the Buglasan’s highlights at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively, on October 20, giving the public an opportunity to witness the colofrul local fiests in the LGUs  in one place at one time.

It will be routed along Dumaguete’s main thoroughfares, while the presentation per contingent will be done at the Lamberto Macial Ssports and Cultural Center. 

Participating in the street dance and showdown are: Tanjay City’s Sinulog de Tanjay; Canlaon City's Pasayaw Festival; Jimalaud's Hambabalud Festival; Mabinay's Langub Festival; Basay's Kapaw Festival, Bais City's Hudyaka Sa Bais: Tapas Sayaw Festival, Dauin's Kinaiyahan Festival, Manjuyod's Mantuod Festival, Bayawan City's Tawo-Tawo Festival; and Dumaguete City's Sandurot Festival.

This year’s Buglasan week-long celebration will award a total of cash prizes of around P5 million to all event competitions. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)