What 'Buswak' is all about
Buswak is a vernacular word (Bicol term) for fruit-bearing stage of palay or rice.
Buswak is a vernacular word (Bicol term) for fruit-bearing stage of palay or rice.
Since, my hometown Minalabac, is known for its vast ricefields, the local government unit officials and its tourism council decided to make it as an annual civic event, every month of March, showcasing the abundance of agricultural produce during the start of summer.
Started on year 2007, the tourism committee focuses on the importance of town's vague history, legends and folklores.
Way back year March 2014, the Buswak Festival opened with street dancing participated in for the first time by some 200 public school teachers clad in colorful costumes, based on the local legend “Kulakog”, a legendary giant that once roamed Minalabac, and the legend of the Quiriaon bell during the Spanish era.The festival aims to:
- promote the traditional agricultural products of the town -- palay, abaca, coconuts and seasonal vegetables
- showcase its pristine beaches in the villages of Bagolatao, San Antonio, Salingogon and Hamorawon.
- welcome traders in order to promote both local and national products.
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| THE TOWN's SIGNAGE |
Facts about Minalabac
- Minalabac is a third-class municipality in Camarines Sur, Bicol, Philippines.
- It has a population of 48, 162 people, based from the 2010 national census. The next census will start this summer of 2015 as 45 enumerators/surveyors were selected this March.
- The town known for the so-called "Tumatarok ni San Felipe-Santiago" or Young Planters of Apostles Saint Philip and Saint James. It is a dance festival where young boys aged 10 to 12 years old performed the dance ritual. I have vague memory of this, but I was once involved in this socio-religious activity.
- It comprises of twenty-five (25) barangays or villages.
5. The main summer beach destinations include the pebble beach in
Bagolatao and sand beach in Hamoraon. There's a private beach in
Salingogon offering comfort and amenities for personal rendezvous.
Meanwhile, San Antonio beach is yet to be tamed since its big stones
also attract handful of beach-goers.The growing number of resorts
(privately-owned or barangay-assisted ones) offers amenities such as
cottages, videoke, rest houses.
6. A Shell Museum is now situated at Barangay Bagolatao and ready to be perused and visited by interested local and foreign tourists.
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| THE FAMED BAGOLATAO BEACH |
6. A Shell Museum is now situated at Barangay Bagolatao and ready to be perused and visited by interested local and foreign tourists.
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| MISS BUSWAK 2015 Winners |
