Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo yesterday thanked those involved in the successful holding of the province’s Buglasan Festival 2014 that ended Sunday night.

 

He said Buglasan 2014 was successful because of the massive participation and cooperation of various sectors and the public. He thanked the local government units, town and city mayors, civil society and the private sector for their contribution to make the festival more meaningful and vibrant this year.

He said he is thankful to the local officials for setting aside politics in taking part in the Buglasan, and expressed his satisfaction that Buglasan benefited businesses, especially the small and medium entrepreneurs.

Buglasan is the province’s premier showcase of the socio-cultural, economic and tourism attractions held every October. It was held October 17-October 26, and ended with a grand fireworks display competition at the Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete Friday.

One of the mainstays of the Buglasan is the festival of festivals, a grand showdown and street dancing competition participated in by some towns and cities with their cultural contingents.

The LGUs also erected booths at the grounds of the Ninoy Aquino Freedom Park in front of the Capitol in Dumaguete, that was the setting of most of the Buglasan events.

Highlighting the festival was the giving of the Outstanding Negrense Award to lawyer Marcelino Maxino for law and jurisprudence, and a posthumous award to the late Bayawan City Mayor German Saraña for government service.

Winners in the competitions held were, for the folk dance competition, Bayawan City, first, Dumaguete City, second, and San Jose, third; ballroom dancing – Santa Catalina, first, with Vallehermoso and Siaton towns, second and third placers, respectively; children choir competition – Dumaguete, first, Canlaon City and Jimalalud, second and third;

Bulilit minus-one singing contest – Sibulan, Jimalalud and Dumaguete City, first, second and third place, respectively; bulilit duet singing competition – Dumaguete City, first, Valencia, second; Bayawan City, third; Sidlakan Village Booth Heritage – Bindoy, first, Bayawan City and Mabinay, second and third, respectively.*JFP/RG