Introduction
Every October, the heart of Negros Oriental beats louder, brighter, and prouder. The Buglasan Festival, fondly known as the Festival of Festivals, returns each year as a living symbol of cultural pride and community spirit. In 2025, Buglasan once again lit up Dumaguete City from October 16 to 26, transforming the province into a dazzling tapestry of colors, music, and unity.
This year’s celebration took on even greater meaning as it proudly became part of the national tourism campaign — “Love the Philippines.” The slogan is more than a tagline; it’s an invitation to rediscover the country’s culture, beauty, and warmth through the lens of its local festivals. And among these, Buglasan stands out as a radiant example of what it means to love the Philippines — embracing its people, traditions, and artistry with open arms.
Visitors who flocked to Dumaguete witnessed the essence of that love: smiling dancers under the sun, joyful parades weaving through Rizal Boulevard, and vibrant pavilions showcasing each town’s identity. Every step, song, and story celebrated not only Negros Oriental’s diversity but also the shared heartbeat of an entire nation.
Buglasan Festival 2025 Official Winners
After ten days of fierce yet friendly competition, creative performances, and heartfelt devotion, the province crowned this year’s top five festival champions. Each winner showcased unmatched artistry and hometown pride, reminding everyone that the spirit of Love the Philippines lives in every Filipino community.
Rank City / Municipality Festival Achievements & Highlights Sinulog 2026 Participation
🥇 Champion – Bais City Hudyaka sa Bais Festival of Harvest Bais City emerged as the grand champion, dominating the street dancing showdown and festival presentation categories. Their performance, themed around the “Festival of Harvest,” was a spectacular fusion of dance, devotion, and gratitude for the city’s rich agricultural roots. With dynamic choreography and visually stunning costumes, Hudyaka sa Bais captured both the judges’ admiration and the crowd’s hearts. The group has confirmed plans to represent Negros Oriental at the Sinulog Festival 2026 in Cebu City — carrying their Festival of Harvest theme to a national stage.
🥈 2nd Place – Dumaguete City Sandurot Festival The home city of Buglasan, Dumaguete, proved its creative might with a performance that celebrated hospitality and friendship. “Sandurot,” derived from the Visayan word pakig-sandurot meaning “to fellowship,” honored Dumaguete’s history as a welcoming port city. The group also received special citations for Best in Costume and Best in Street Performance. Dumaguete’s contingent has expressed interest in joining Sinulog 2026, continuing its tradition of cultural exchange with Cebu.
🥉 3rd Place – Bayawan City Tawo-Tawo Festival Bayawan’s famous Tawo-Tawo Festival danced its way to third place with a lively retelling of the Filipino scarecrow legend. Their choreography combined humor, faith, and folk storytelling — making them crowd favorites. The group also won Best in Choreography and Best in Music. Bayawan City is currently finalizing its participation papers for Sinulog 2026 as part of the Visayas contingent lineup.
🏅 4th Place – Basay Kapaw Festival Known for its strong fishing community, Basay’s Kapaw Festival paid tribute to the abundance of the sea. Their energetic dancers in fish-inspired costumes wowed spectators, securing fourth place and the Best in Musicality award. Basay’s officials are exploring a collaborative presentation for Sinulog 2026 to promote marine life preservation and eco-tourism.
🎖️ 5th Place – Sibulan Yag-Yag Festival Sibulan’s Yag-Yag Festival, celebrating the town’s mangroves and coastal ecosystem, secured fifth place. Their rhythmic performance, colorful sea creature props, and heartfelt message of environmental care earned praise from the panel. Though not yet confirmed, Yag-Yag Festival’s organizers are considering joining Sinulog 2026 to showcase their award-winning environmental theme.
A Festival That Embodies “Love the Philippines”
1. A Living Showcase of Filipino Culture
Buglasan gathers the best festivals of Negros Oriental into one grand stage. From the fishing stories of Basay to the harvest celebrations of Bais, and the hospitality of Dumaguete — each performance reveals the Philippines’ soul. It’s an invitation to discover the country’s hidden cultural gems and to celebrate the local stories that make every province unique.
2. Strength in Unity
Under the national tourism slogan Love the Philippines, Buglasan 2025 emphasized the importance of unity through diversity. The event brought together 25 municipalities and 6 cities, all proudly waving their flags, costumes, and values. From farmers to artists, students to elders — everyone played a part in making the festival a success.
In a world that often feels divided, Buglasan reminded us that loving the Philippines means loving one another.
3. Promoting Local Tourism
Beyond the grand parades and performances, Buglasan featured a week-long tourism and agri-fair, showcasing Negros Oriental’s best delicacies, crafts, and travel spots. Visitors indulged in Dumaguete’s world-famous silvanas, explored the Manjuyod Sandbar, and planned side trips to Apo Island, Casaroro Falls, and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes.
These experiences weave perfectly into the Department of Tourism’s mission: to make people fall in love with every province, every smile, and every story in the archipelago.
4. Resilience Despite Challenges
Rain poured during the parade’s final day, but that didn’t stop the dancers. Their smiles never faded, proving once again the Filipino spirit’s resilience — a key message of Love the Philippines. Locals and tourists alike cheered through umbrellas and muddy roads, showing that passion and pride always outshine the weather.
5. From Local to National Stage
Winning Buglasan opens doors to national recognition. Several contingents — including Hudyaka sa Bais and Sandurot Festival — have previously represented Negros Oriental in Sinulog and Aliwan Fiesta, earning acclaim across the country.
For 2026, Cebu City’s Sinulog Foundation, Inc. (SFI) is limiting festival contingents to 35, and Buglasan’s winners are already strong contenders. Their expected participation reflects how local celebrations contribute to the Philippines’ growing global cultural identity.
Economic and Tourism Impact
According to the Negros Oriental Provincial Tourism Office, this year’s Buglasan attracted tens of thousands of visitors, including domestic tourists and international vloggers. The event significantly boosted local businesses — hotels were fully booked, restaurants were packed, and souvenir shops saw record sales.
Governor Manuel Sagarbarria emphasized that Buglasan 2025 aligns perfectly with the national tourism push:
“When we say Love the Philippines, we’re also saying Support Local. Every tourist peso spent here goes back to our communities, our farmers, our artists, and our youth.”
Through cultural celebration, Buglasan strengthens not only identity but also livelihood — proving that cultural pride and economic growth can thrive hand in hand.
Final Thoughts
The Buglasan Festival 2025 once again proved why Negros Oriental is the heart of culture in the Visayas. Under the radiant banner of Love the Philippines, the festival united towns, inspired pride, and reminded us that our diversity is our greatest strength.
From the victorious Hudyaka sa Bais to the heartfelt performances of Sandurot, Tawo-Tawo, Kapaw, and Yag-Yag, each contingent carried a story worth sharing — a story of heritage, joy, and hope. As these champions prepare for Sinulog 2026 in Cebu City, they carry not just their town’s name, but the nation’s collective heartbeat.
So pack your bags, bring your smile, and come experience the next Buglasan Festival. Celebrate the rhythm, taste the culture, and join the chorus that echoes across the islands —“Mahal ko ang Pilipinas — I Love the Philippines!”
#LoveThePhilippines #BuglasanFestival2025 #NegrosOriental #FestivalOfFestivals #Sinulog2026 #DumagueteCity #PhilippineCulture
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