DUMAGUETE CITY–The finale could be a “dry” celebration.
Organizers have aired fears that the liquor ban for the October 25 barangay elections, which starts at midnight of October 24, will water down the revelry for the finale on that day.{{more}}
Roy August Bustillo, the point person for the Kasikas sa Kalye (street revelry) meant as a prelude to the fireworks competition that evening, said it is ironic for the beer company to be sponsoring an event where it cannot sell its product because of the liquor ban.
San Miguel has donated P1 million for this year’s Buglasan Festival and is one of the festival’s major sponsors.
In a press conference at the Sidlakang Negros Village last week, organizers said they intend to follow the law, including the liquor ban.
Glynda Descuatan, Buglasan co-chairperson, said that the events had been scheduled long before the barangay polls was scheduled. She admitted that San Miguel had expressed apprehension about the effect of the liquor ban on the SMB night.
The SMB night has also been timed for the opening of the Philippine University Games, which will be held in Negros Oriental for one week.
“We will probably have to learn to celebrate without drinking alcohol,” Descuatan said.
There could be a possibility, though, that the SMB night would be moved away from the liquor ban, although Buglasan chairman Dr. Nick Elman, but said any decision would be made in a meeting of the Buglasan Board. “We won’t make decisions now (in the press conference) because we are a collegial body,” he explained.
The Buglasan Festival, the Province’s biggest tourism event, is scheduled from October 15-24.
Touted as the biggest Buglasan Festival ever, this event will have an P8 million budget, with P4.5 million coming from the provincial government alone with the private sector shouldering the balance.
“Our goal is that someday, this will even out, where the private sector will put up half of the amount and hopefully, the private sector will eventually own this activity, “Descuatan said.
Buglasan traces its roots to 1981 when Foundation University and the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran Negros Oriental Chapter staged a competition in cooperation with the Provincial Government to determine the Province’s delegation to the First National Folk Arts Festival.
Dubbed Buglasan Festival in memory of the island’s beginnings, the event comprised booth presentations, indigenous culinary competitions, and street dances and field presentations of various local cultural productions that had evolved into modest festivals.
In 2002, the Provincial Board passed Ordinance No. 15 adopting the Buglasan Festival as the Province’s annual Provincial Fiesta to be held every October. This marked the start of the yearly celebration as it is known today.
The Buglasan Festival has spawned local festivals that have won national acclaim.
In 2003, the Yag-yag festival of Sibulan town, a dance depicting the movement of crabs, won the National Streetdancing competition. The festival was also brought to Japan where it was shown to the Japanese to promote tourism for the province of Negros Oriental.
The Tawo Tawo Festival of Bayawan City also brought honor to Negros Oriental by winning 4th place in the 2007 Sinulog Festival streetdancing competition.
This year’s festival will see the participation of 11 local government units, namely the cities of Bais, Bayawan, Dumaguete, Tanjay and the municipalities of Jimalalud, Mabinay, Siaton, Sibulan, and Zamboanguita, Manjuyod and Bindoy.
Grand City-wide civil military parade will open the festivities at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 15, with the special participation of the Solili festival of Siquijor province.
Myla Bromo-Abellana, the Tourism Promotions Officer of Negros Oriental, said the Buglasan has steadily built up partnerships with stakeholders, as they endeavor to sustain the value-driven culture of tourism.
“We try to develop that culture of tourism where people are supportive of each other. We continually impress upon our transport operators not jack up their prices when guests arrive and emphasize the need to be kind to our guests,” she said.
- Advertisement -