The Buglasan Festival of Festivals of Negros Oriental will be celebrated in Dumaguete City October 17-26, with more than 50 events calendared, on the theme “Community Development through Tourism”.

Buglasan organizers have identified three venues for the main events which are spread out at Freedom Park, Sidlakang Negros Village, and Rizal Boulevard to decongest the expected huge crowd.

The Buglasan Festival, one of the Philippines most colorful festivals, will start with daily activities and programs, with the festival of festivals showdown, street dance, and king and queen activities on October 24. The heritage booths of local government units will be set up at the Freedom Park and Sidlakan Negros Village along with the corporate booths, and an array of mini-restaurants.

The showdown of festivals will bring in the best contingents from the province’s more than 20 established festivals. Showdown and street dancing represents the local fiestas in the municipalities and affords the public the opportunity to witness the colorful activities in one place at one time. The showdown will be at the main streets of Dumaguete, and the presentation of each contingent at the Lamberto Macial Sports and Cultural Center.

The influx of local, national as well as foreign tourists is expected to bring in cash flow and economic surge.

Meanwhile, the Negros Oriental Tourism Council announced the extension of the deadline of submission of nominees for the 2014 Outstanding Oriental Negrense Awards for Excellence on October 3. The ONA is scheduled at the opening of the Buglasan, and will be held at the Capitol forecourt.*RG