The 10-day Buglasan Festival of Festivals ended yesterday with a two-part fireworks display competition at the Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City.

 

The winners of the festival showdown Friday morning at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center, also in Dumaguete, were also announced during the selection and coronation of the Buglasan King and Queen at the Benigno S. Aquino Freedom Park stage.

They were Yagyag Festival of Sibulan town, first; Tawotawo Festival, Bayawan, second; and, Himbabalud Festival, Jimalalud, third. The Yagyag contingent also won as best drum corps and best in choreography, and those of Tawotawo as best identification arc, best costume, and best in street dance.

The best floats were Yagyag Festival, first, and most artistic; Hudyaka Festival of Bais, second, and most indigenous float; and, Himbabalud Festival, Jimalalud, third.

Meanwhile, Marvy Faye Suarez of Sibulan won as Buglasan Queen, and Melvin Ray Yurong of Bayawan as Buglasan King. Suarez also won best in costume and best speaker, and Yurong, best speaker and best performer. The Tawotawo Festival King and Queen won as best entourage.

Other Buglasan pageant winners were Aly Mae Vocal of Bais City, first runner-up; Noreen Tapis, Way Buga Festival of Amlan, second runner-up; Don Diego Manso of Amlan, first runner-up; and Jivan Caluscusan, Sandurot Festival of Dumaguete, second runner-up.

Minor awards were won by Christine Joy Sarido of Bayawan, best performer, and Noreen Tapis of Amlan, best in terno.

The board of judges was chaired by Gener Caringal of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.*CG