Buglasan's beginnings

It was the dark humdrum years of martial rule, the 70's, and Dumaguete was at its most laidback. Six men somewhere in an apartment building on Real Street, sipping beer or was it the local libation rum coke, came up with a brilliant idea. With light bulbs over their heads, Bobby Villasis, Prudi Sirilan, Bobby Café', Bing Cipres (may she rest in peace), Oscar Ong and Ting-Ting Delfin concocted an idea of coming up with a festival that would awaken the cultural soul of Oriental Negros. They thought of gathering together the different festivals of the town into one big event that would give our province enriching identity. The rest is history!

In July 1980, "a search for cultural and traditional dances, and practices of the different municipalities through a Provincial Folk Arts Festival was conceptualized. The festival was baptized 'Buglasan' after the lowly reed, buglas, which grew all over the island."

In May 1981 the first Buglasan festival opened in Foundation University and the "Palihi" of Siaton was first performed. It was such a hit that the rite was invited by no other than First Lady Imelda Marcos to open at the Folk Arts Theater in Manila. In 1982 Buglasan joined the 5th Philippine Folk Arts Festival at the Folk Arts Theater in Manila and won 1st runner-up. In 1983 the venue of the festival was moved from Foundation University to Quezon Park, and also joined the "Sangyaw Festival" in Tacloban, Leyte. Due to political instability the festival was dead from 1984 to 1994. In 1995 the festival "saw the light of day." It was in 2000 that Buglasan was hailed as he "Festival of Council" chaired by Mercy Goñi, the Miss Negros Oriental Beauty Pageant, then chaired by "moi" was introduced. In 2002 the Buglasan Festival was formally institutionalized and declared "The Provincial Festival of Negros Oriental" by virtue of Ordinance No.15 Resolution No.804 authored by Hon. Mariant Escaño-Villegas. The good Board Member has run the "show" since then.

This year being the 25th anniversary of its birth, the Buglasan Festival was commenced at its original natal place-Foundation University. Provincial political, business, social and academic who's-who led by Gov. George Arnaiz, Vice Governor Petit Baldado, Vice Mayor William Ablong, Hon. Chiquiting Sagarbarria and Mariant Escaño Villegas, Dr. Henry Sojor, Dr. Ben Malayang, Dean Sinco, Dino Dipositario, Toby Dichoso, Sister Nilda, Usec. Phenias Alburo, many of its original organizers and performers marveled at the day's festivities, made up of a memorabilia exhibit, "salo-salo", signing of a MOA of joint cooperation of the leading universities and the performance of the Inagta of Siaton, the Kasalan Dauinanon of Dauin and the Polka Biyana of Zamboanguita. It was heartwarming to see many of the senior performers with so much energy. Kudos to Foundation University for such a wonderful day of nostalgia and hospitality! NOUS*