Nine NegOr LGUs vie for Buglasan Festival champion
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 14 (PIA) Nine contingents from different municipalities and cities set to vie the grand Festival of festivals showdown and street dancing on October 21, serves as the main highlights of the Buglasan in Negros Oriental.
The contingents don with colorful pageantry dressed dancers are expected to converge for the festival showdown at 8:00 a.m. at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center and street dance at 2:00 p.m. around the city main thoroughfares.
Showdown and street dancing represents the local fiestas in the towns and cities afford an opportunity for the public to witness the colorful activities in one place at one time.
Each contingent will show off their pulsated and high energy dance with its story to tell to vie the best showdown and street dance for a grand prize winner of P100,000.
For this, the contingents must show grandiosity and gimmickry to surprise and entertain the judges and thousands of local and foreign tourists, said festival director Mariant Villegas.
The second placer will receive P70, 000 and P50, 000 for the 3rd winner for the festival. Of the nine participating local government units (LGUs), six may receive consolation prizes.
Performance, choreography, costume and music will be the criteria for judging in the main dance showdown, while in the street dancing competition, it will be the energy level, parade choreography, discipline and orderliness of the participants.
Tourists and locals alike are expected to join in on the fun by dancing to party the festival music in the streets.
The showdown and street dance are two of the highlights of the ten-day festival celebration. (PIA/JCT)
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NegOr sets candle-lighting for peace
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 14 (PIA) The Negros Oriental government along with the Bayanihan Para sa Kabataan (BPK) and People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR) has slated a symbolic Candle Lighting for Peace on November 11 at 5:00 p.m. at the Freedom Park grounds, Capitol in Dumaguete City.
This historic provincial event is in celebration with the international Remembrance Day or Day of Peace (end of World War 1) which aims to encourage other sectors and individuals to involve in the peace process.
To start its program, the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) hold a mass formation followed by a simultaneous ringing of symbolic peace bell, sirens and horns.
To highlight the event, Provincial Governor Roel Degamo will lead the candle lighting and simultaneously release the white peace balloons prior to the launching of the symbolic sky lanterns for peace.
The ceremony offers an inter-faith prayer with five religious congregations which include Mos Re. John Du, Bishop of Diocese of Dumaguete; Uztadz Maula, Imam; Bro. Virgilio Banez, District Minister of Iglesia Ni Cristo; Pastor Danny Dela Rama, Conference Minister of UCCP; and Pastor Samuel Templado of International Care Ministries.
Presidents of the four universities of Silliman, Foundation, St. Paul and Negros Oriental State in the city will give a brief message each to promote a culture and value of peace and harmony.
The provincial governor plans to issue a directive to all local government units to hold simultaneous candle lighting for peace activities in their respective localities. (PIA NegOr/JCT)