Cecile M. Genove

This weekend as well as tomorrow, the last day of the year, will witness the culmination of the 10-day Buglasan Festival this year on the theme, “Sustaining Negros Oriental Multi-Sectoral Tourism Development Initiatives.” As to whether Gov. Emilio C. Macias II was vindicated in his adamant stance of pushing for the resetting of the Buglasan Festival from October to December starting this year, as well as for its relocation from the Freedom Park to the Provincial Nursery grounds, still remains to be seen.

On the contrary though, while the Buglasan Festival and its merrymaking activities will still see the light of day each year as in the previous years, a welcome development is the building of a Negros Oriental showroom out of indigenous materials, which will be open to the public – local and foreign tourists alike – all throughout the year.

Thus, this year's Buglasan Festival is also a dry run of sorts as the permanent booth structures are being spruced up for a more lengthy look-see by visitors in the coming days and months. This could very well be reminiscent of the Panaad Festival of Negros Occidental where sturdy structures have been built to showcase the produce, wares, and artifacts of the various cities and municipalities of the province.

This year is doubly significant for Negros Oriental as it celebrates its 110th anniversary tomorrow, Dec. 31, which will be highlighted by a 30-minute fireworks extravaganza at the Rizal Boulevard . This is expected to draw hordes of people converging at the famed boulevard to have a vantage view of a display of fireworks daunted to be similar to what was mounted during the Dumaguete fiesta and Charter Day celebration in November, if not more glitzy and spectacular.

Another highlight of the Buglasan Festival is the awards ceremonies for Outstanding Negrenses today after a thanksgiving Mass at the Sidlakang Negros stage, to be followed by a testimonial dinner in honor of the awardees.

As confirmed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and released by the Office of the Governor after the endorsement by the Executive Committee, this year's Outstanding Negrenses are: Ruperto C. Cadayday in the field of agriculture; civic leader and philanthropist Monserrat Gonzales Magbanua in the field of community service; Negros Oriental State University president Dr. Henry A. Sojor in the field of education; former Congressman Herminio G. Teves in the field of government service; and, Justice Fortunato A. Vailoces in the field of law.

Earlier, a Buglas Farm Family Congress was held at the Provincial Agriculturist Office Nursery Compound as part of the activities. Adapting the same theme of this year's Buglasan Festival, the congress featured farm gate prices of organic fruits and vegetables from the Barangay Agricultural Development Centers and farm associations in the province.

It became an agricultural-cum-cultural showcase of farmers, their wives and children's talents where they exhibited their dancing and singing prowess, aside from the agri-technology demonstrations.

Gov. Macias formally declared the opening of the congress, which was immediately followed by various sectoral activities such as chicken-dressing, method demonstrations, folk media contest, handicraft method demonstrations, dancesport competition, and the like.

Meanwhile, Gov. Macias was inducting officer and guest of honor in the induction of officers and Christmas party recently of the Life After Stroke Organization of Negros Oriental. Held in cooperation with the Silliman University Physical Therapy Program, Gov. Macias, himself a medical doctor, shared about the challenges and travails he has been facing these past years in the light of caring for his wife, an obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Melba Macias, herself a stroke survivor.

The officers for 2008 are Board Member Lea Ga. Bromo, president; Quiterio Peñaflor, vice-president; Sr. Mary Clarissa Lusabia, secretary; Odette Manuela Bumanglag Dales, treasurer; Capt. Victorino de Guzman, Josefina Lestor, and Angelita Cual, board of trustees. The organization's advisers are Dr. Lynn Larena Olegario, director of the SU Physical Therapy Program, and Dr. Rosalind Flores Yu.

The Life After Stroke Organization of Negros Oriental aspires to reduce the burden of stroke in the province by promoting education and supporting research into stroke epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, treatment, and recovery. It also aims to promote a culture of care among the public and health professionals, to help stroke survivors and their families adapt to the effects of stroke by providing mutual positive support, and to assist individual members obtain medical and rehabilitative services.

It was organized in 2005 after survivors, caregivers, and health professionals attending a lay forum sponsored by the Negros Oriental Chapter of the Stroke Society of the Philippines recognized the need for comprehensive support of stroke survivors and their families.

Membership is open to stroke survivors, their families, caregivers, health professionals, and anyone with an interest in stroke. All are welcome to join in their monthly activities with the support of Sanofi-Aventis Philippines, Inc. and the SU Physical Therapy Program.

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This being our last issue for the year, we wish to greet all our readers a blessed, faith-filled, and prosperous New Year as we focus our sight on more good things to come in 2008 as well as in the coming years. Indeed, there is nothing that we cannot surmount given God's infinite wisdom and grace.

For us at Silliman University , we welcome back into the fold our beloved president, Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, after having undergone a successful, non-invasive two-stent angioplasty last Dec. 14 at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan , Metro Manila . After giving us a scare of our lives, this is a time to say a prayer of gratitude for the new lease given on his life. Truly, for Dr. Ben, his wife Gladys, and their children, this should be a more meaningful and significant celebration of the Yuletide season.

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