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Friday, September 15, 2006
Home stay program pushed during festival
By Victor L. Camion
GOVERNOR George Arnaiz said the Provincial Government would be encouraging a Home Stay Program to accommodate more tourists expected to flock to Negros Oriental in the run up to the two-week celebration of the annual Buglasan Festival of Festivals next month.
Arnaiz said the Buglasan Festival is expected to attract an estimated 200,000 local and foreign visitors as it did in the past.
Right now, he explained, hotels and resorts in Dumaguete City and nearby towns could not accommodate advanced bookings in anticipation of the Buglasan Festival.
For this reason, he said, he has organized a Home Stay Program Task Force under the Provincial Tourism Unit.
"It will serve as the best alternative to hotel accommodations where foreigners will be exposed to the local folk culture and traditions," said Arnaiz.
The approach, he added, would enable tourists and visitors to experience "true Filipino hospitality."
The creation of the home stay program task force is part of the "head over heels" preparation of the Provincial Government for what has been acknowledged as the biggest and longest running festival in the country.
The festival will run for 17 days starting October 13 up to October 29, 2006.
The Provincial Government allotted P4.5 million for the event.
Of the budget, P2 million would come from various combination of resources including sponsorships, rentals, income-generating activities, and provincial fund.
Provincial Board Member Mariant Escano-Villegas, director general of the event, said the festivity was extended to 17 days because of strong public clamor.
"We used to have it only for seven days... then 10 days... until we move it for 17 days of fun and fair," she explained.
Villegas said at the moment 15 local government units have expressed their participation in the Buglasan Festival.
The Buglasan Festival, now on its 7th year, is a brainchild of Arnaiz to promote the richness of the culture and the arts of the Oriental Negrense, celebrate its unique local festivals, present its sports and agri-tourism potentials, and serve as a vehicle for socio-economic development.
Originally, the Buglasan showcases the best of local festivals such as artistic and agricultural booths, the Festival Showdown, the Fireworks Competition, and music, dance, beauty, talent, singing, and various sports competitions.
This year, the Buglasan will include new fun-filled events such as the Songwriting Contest, the Rondalla Senior Division, the International Night for foreign students, visitors and the locals, the Buglasan Rap, River Kayaking, Open Lawn Chess Tournament; Lutong Garbo sa Oriental Negros; Fun Flying Competition, Battle of the Bands, Community Talents Night, the Buglasan LGU Tourism and Fair Awards, and photo and video competitions.
(September 14, 2006 issue)
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