Bigger Buglasan Fest ‘09 begins October 16

by: RACHELLE M. NESSIA

This year’s Buglasan Festival of Festivals promises to be more spectacular than the previous year with more contingents slated to battle it out during the Festival of Festivals Showdown.

Some 13 contingents from various local government units will participate during the Showdown on October 23 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex.

Last year, only five contingents competed in said showdown.

Participating in the showdown this year are Bayawan City, Sta. Catalina, Dauin, Bacong, Dumaguete, Sibulan, Tanjay, Bais City, Jimalalud, Canlaon City, Mabinay, and Zamboanguita.

The Festival of Festivals of Showdown is the highlight of the 10-day Buglasan festivities.

The festival which runs from October 16 to 25 will kick-off with the 6th Buglasan Farm Family Congress and culminate in the crowd-drawing Fireworks Competition on the evening of Oct. 25 Other events include a My Negros Oriental Photo Exhibit at the Sidlakan Negros Art Gallery, Lutong Garbo cookfest, Marching Band Showdown, live band competitions, cheerdance competition, and the Outstanding Oriental NEgrense Awards, among others.

Board Member Mariant Escano-Villegas in a press conference said that the over-all Buglasan champion this year will receive P500,000 worth of projects. Second place winner will get P300,000 worth of projects and the third, P200,000.

Villegas explained that winners are judged based on a point system. “For every event that a local government unit participates in, they have a corresponding point,” she said.

Each time the LGU wins in an event, whether first, second or third, they get a corresponding merit point. At the end of the Buglasan, all their points are tallied up.

Villegas disclosed that the provincial government appropriated P2M for this year’s Buglasan celebration. “We expect to get more funding from our sponsors, sellers and corporate booths,” she added.

The national officers of the Board Members’ League are expected to witness the Buglasan festivities this year, along with board members from the VIsayas Island in Regions 6, 7 and 8.

With more LGUs participating in the festival this year, Villegas is confident that the performance level this year is better than that of last year. (PIA/RMN)