The “Buglasan Lutong Garbo,” now on its 20th year, is one of the most awaited events as it tests the culinary skills of NegOrenses. It would be well to revisit some of the award-winning dishes in past competitions as preparations are now high-pitched with the opening of the Buglasan Festival over the weekend.
The tinap-ang pasayan sa ohong with papaya sauce, a menu of Tanjay City, was declared first prize winner of the 16 recipes that competed on a particular year.
Dianna May Dadios, first placer chef, presented her menu in a scrumptious and creative way of cooking her prize-winning dish using banana leaves.
Dadios received a cash prize of P10,000 and a trophy from Lutong Garbo committee led by chairperson Sylvia Uy and a certificate of competency from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Crustacea a la takway of Sibulan town with cook, Madonna Gay Licerio, got the second place with a cash prize of P7,000, trophy, and a certificate of competency from TESDA.
Kamunggay kalabasa meatless patty with kayote sauce of Mabinay town with cook, Jocelyn Alpay, got the third place and received P5,000 with a trophy and a certificate of competency also from TESDA.
Former TV host and Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo also gave additional prizes to the three winners worth P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 for the first, second, and third place winners, respectively, as she graced the occasion and sampled the dishes.
The other 13 non-winners received P2,500 each as consolation prize and all the cook-participants brought also with them the Gasulito from Matiao Marketing.
As in the previous years, each participating contingent gets a sizeable subsidy from the provincial government. The booths have been meticulously prepared, complete with exhibits of their products and other wares.
Participation each year surpasses that of the previous years. Government and non-government organizations join the celebration. A heart-warming development in the past years is the participation of our indigenous peoples, who showed us what it takes to preserve their culture and heritage, thus, promoting inclusivity, not exclusivity.
The contingents look forward to the Buglasan each year as it is a good avenue for local talents. Many of our local talents who have made good in national competitions initially displayed their talents in the Buglasan. Many promising potentials among our young NegOrenses would have gone to waste if they did not have an avenue in Buglasan.
Tourist arrivals usually reach a certain peak because of the lure of Buglasan. Thus, it has really been very good for the economy as well as to business. | NWI
