At least 18 towns and cities in Oriental Negros are joining the Buglasan Festival of Festivals on Oct. 13-29.

The event is under the auspices of the Oriental Negros Culture and Arts Council co-chaired by Gov. George Arnaiz and Board Member Mariant Villegas.

The festival came into being in 1981 after a search for one that will represent the province in the 1st Folk Arts Festival convened by the then first lady Imelda Marcos.

The first Buglasan festival was held inside the Foundation University campus in Dumaguete City in cooperation with the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran Oriental Negros chapter.

The provincial delegation then was composed of the "Inagta and Palihi" festival of Siaton, "Polka Biana" of Zamboanguita, "Kasal Dauinanon" of Dauin and "Sinulog" of Tanjay and Manjuyod.

Buglasan has since moved out of the Foundation University campus and into the management and facilities of the provincial government.

In 2002, the provincial board passed Ordinance No. 15 establishing the Buglasan Festival as the annual provincial fiesta to be held every October. On Oct. 14, 2005, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared every 3rd Friday of October as Buglasan Day, a special public holiday for the province.

The Buglasan festival consists of the tourism and agri-fair, theme booth presentation by local government units, corporate participants and educational institutions, selection of festival king and queen, performing arts competitions, open air band concerts, games and sports, rodeo, horseshow and fireworks competition, among others.

The main highlight is the Buglasan festival of festivals, which gathers the finest performing contingents established and the emerging festivals of Oriental Negros.

These include the "Hambabalud festival" of Jimalalud, "Kapaw Festival" of Basay, "Libod-sayaw" in Bindoy, "Tag-ilis festival" of Sta. Catalina, and "Masulog festival" of Maslog, Sibulan.

Also participating are "Ayuquitan festival" of San Jose, "Baulan festival" of Zamboanguita, "Guihulugan festival" of Guihulngan, "Kalabasa festival" of Tayasan, "Saulog festival" of Tanjay City, "Sipong festival" of Bais City, and "Kinaiyahan festival of Dauin, "Kasulad festival" of Pamplona, "Sandurot festival" of Dumaguete City, "Tawo-tawo festival" of Bayawan City. "Pasayaw festival of Canlaon City, "Dalupapa festival of Ayungon and the "Langub festival of Mabinay.

Oriental Negros has also produced a national champion two years ago, the "Yagyag festival" of Sibulan.

Meanwhile, Arnaiz has ordered the Provincial Engineer's Office to see to it that all structures or booths being built for the festival around Kagawasan Avenue conform to safety requirements to prevent any untoward incident.

He said the least that the LGUs can do is to limit the number of persons in their booths.

It was observed that the booths this year are made of steel, and concrete, while others are made of indigenous, and mixed materials, Arnaiz added.*JG

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