Strong rains brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine nearly disrupted Friday’s Buglasan Festival of Festivals Street Dancing and Showdown competition, the highlight of this year’s Buglasan Festival, but organizers of the event decided to push through with the event in an emergency meeting Friday.
To ensure the safety and welfare of the participants and spectators, the event was transferred to the Perdices Coliseum, instead of having the participants parade around the streets of Dumaguete City.
The City of Dumaguete, however, had decided not to pull out their contingent from the competition, citing the need to protect their 500-strong contingent from the effects of the rain.
Mayor Felipe Remollo said that the rains had caused some participants to be injured during practice sessions earlier in the week.
Despite the rains, Bais City’s Hudyaka sa Bais won first prize in the street dancing competition, followed by Sibulan’s YagYag Festival, Canlaon City’s Pasayaw Festival, Tayasan’s Dalit Tayasanon and Bayawan City’s Tawo Tawo Festival.
Several spectators also expressed surprise about Mabinay’s Langub Festival not getting any major award.
Minor awards went to Bayawan City for the Buglasan King and Queen, with Bayawan City also winning the Best in Costume. Bais City won awards for Best in Streetdancing, choreography and choreographer. Bais also won the Best in Identification Arch award. The Municipality of Tayasan, on the other hand, won the Best in Musicality Award.
Provincial Tourism Head Woodrow Maquiling Jr. congratulated the local government units and the various teams behind the success of the Buglasan 2024.
Maquiling reported that “tens of thousands” gathered inside the grandstand in support of the more than 5,000 performers from 11 LGUs competing in this year’s Buglasan Festival. “(The) oval never looked this good!” Maquiling posted on his Facebook page.
Some Buglasan events were also beset with problems starting with the 4L Half Marathon and Buglasan Fun Run. Runners protested at the way the event was handled, starting with the logistics of bringing everyone to their respective starting lines up to the disorganization in the finish line. Most of the 4,042 participants who paid their registration fees did not receive their finishers’ medals and t-shirts, as promised.
One reporter said police had to step in to control the crowd, that was starting to become agitated because of all the confusion.
The organizers issued an apology with the assurance that the medals and shirts will be delivered in 14 days.
The MusicFest scheduled for Friday was also canceled due to the rains. (AP)
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Photo Caption: Top 5 Festival costumes from pre-pageant event. Bayawan City, Tawo-Tawo Festival; Sibulan, Yagyag Festival; Santa Catalina, Pakol Festival; Basay, Tingkapaw Festival and Guihulngan City, Carabel Festival. (Negros Oriental Provincial Tourism Board photo)
