FESTIVALS OF ORIENTAL NEGROS

The province of Oriental Negros is famous for her colorful festivals. Because of this, an annual affair known as the Buglasan festival, the festival of all festivals, was born. It showcases various festivals from her cities and towns. On this page, you will read about the famous festivals that we Negrenses are proud of. They are the outputs of students from second year section Garcia of Negros Oriental High School. The students did a webquest and the outputs are featured online for everyone to see and appreciate.

AYUQUITAN FESTIVAL San Jose, Oriental Negros

The theme of the festival centers on how the town of San Jose got its name. It is held every May 7 as a cultural activity in line with the town's fiesta celebration which is on May10. Streetdancing and showdown are the main features of the festival.

Graceful ayuquitanons showing their winning stunt during the showdown.

BUDYAS FESTIVAL Amlan, Oriental Negros

Budyas festival is a traditional ritual on the waterfront of the town of Amlan. Offerings are made to the spirits of the sea to ensure fishermen of a bountiful catch. The images of St. Peter and St. Paul are placed on a lavishly decorated boat, the centerpiece of a fluvial procession. This is held during the town fiesta of Amlan which is on November 30. A church mass follows the event and concluded with a streetdancing to the town plaza where the final showdown and field presentation is held.

Pretty Amlananons during the fluvial procession.

SANDUROT FESTIVAL Dumaguete City (capital city of Or. Neg.)

Sandurot showcases the gentleness of the Dumaguetenos for which the city is known for. It is held during the fiesta week of the city which is on November 25. The festival has three parts-- pakighimamat, a traditional beach ritual welcoming strangers to the shore of the city; pasundayag, streetdancing on the thoroughfares; and the pasigarbo, the concluding event showcasing the final showdown of talents from the various barangays of the city.

a replica of the city's landmark, an old belltower is used as a prop during the parade.

SIPONG FESTIVAL Bais City, Oriental Negros

Originally known as Hudyaka or merriment, the festival which is reinvented as Sipong, is a form of thanksgiving for the farmers' bountiful harvest. The festival which is held on the 7th of September, ushers in the city's fiesta on September 10. Beauty pageant, streetdancing, field presentation and other merrymaking activities are held during the event.

Shown on the left are participants donning colorful costumes duirng the streetdancing.

TAWO-TAWO FESTIVAL Bayawan City, Oriental Negros

The tawo-tawo or scarecrow has always been of great help to the farmers of Bayawan. The field "creature" watches over the ricefields of the farmers from the small maya birds which feed on the ripened grains. To honor its help for a bountiful harvest, the festival was conceived. Since then, it has become an added attraction to the fiesta celebration of the city.

Dancers masquarading as scarecrows