The Buling-Buling and MassKara Festivals:
School of NHM’s Grand Centennial Welcome to
CEU
By: Armalyn P. Sampang
ABMCJ3A
The Philippines is indeed a melting pot of cultures
and traditions. This statement is clearly obvious;
it reflects the numerous festivals we Filipinos celebrate
as the seasons unfold. The traditions of our nation
that are firmly imbedded in our cultural practices
and celebrations have made the Philippines what it
is right now, a land of diversity unified by a strong
value of patriotism, nationalism, and solidarity.
While the Philippines may be composed of scattered
islands and surrounded by deep waters, these factors
never became a hindrance for the Filipinos, although
in different ways, to celebrate life as life ought
to be celebrated, with loud music, grand festivities
and happy Filipinos conquering the forces of the
earth with their great energy and might of spirit.
Vibrant colors and beats, festive decorations, and
an infectious atmosphere of merrymaking welcomed
the first day of August as the School of Nutrition
and Hospitality Management celebrated its annual
Tourism Festival. Seniors and Juniors of the Association
of Tourism Students filled the North Quadrangle early
in the morning, fully clad with brightly colored
Filipiniana costumes.
The School of Nutrition and Hospitality Management’s
Association of Tourism Students came up with the
Buling-Buling and MassKara festivals as part of the
Centennial Celebration of Centro Escolar University.
The annual Tourism Festival showcases different cultural
presentations from the different provinces of our
country.
The two grand festivals were featured live in a
segment of ABS CBN’s morning show Umagang Kay
Ganda. Winnie Cordero was the segment host.
Six sections from the third year level particpated
in the Buling-Buling Festival while the four sections
of the fourth year level battled in the MassKara
Festival.
The Juniors presented the Buling-Buling of Pandacan,
a religious dance performed in honor of Sto. Nino
with a modern twist. The Juniors displayed their
grace and poise in the dance floor as they moved
to the festive music of the Buling-Buling. Flamboyant
costumes of pulsating colors glided with the gyrating
Juniors, striking props of flowers, silk and indigenous
materials were used to emphasize the beauty of every
movement made by the dancing groups. Most groups
danced with Sto. Niño statues at hand.
The Seniors, on the other hand, danced to the beat
of the drums of the MassKara of Bacolod. The MassKara
showcased the dancing prowess of the Seniors as they
stirred to the wild rhythm of the Latin beat with
a blend of hip-hop movements. The Seniors added a
twist of contemporary moves to the traditional movements
done in MassKara Festivals making the performances
appealing to different tastes of the audience. The
ambiance during the performance of the Seniors was
Mardi Gras-alike in terms of the energy level felt
by the crowd.
The exquisitely choreographed performances stunned
the crowd as well as the invited guests. Among the
invited guests were Hon. Robert Barbers, General
Manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority and Hon.
Cynthia Carrion, Assistant Secretary for Sports Tourism,
Wellness and Spa of the Department of Tourism. The
invited guests gave inspirational messages to the
performers before the contest proper. Dr. Cristina
Padolina also graced the occasion as she delivered
her opening remarks. Judging the event were Ms. Josefina
Guillen, Director for Dance of the Performing Arts
Department of CCP; Dr. Larry Gabao, Vice President
of Philippine Folk Dance Society of the Philippine
Normal University; Ms. Margot Esplana, former VIP
Dancer; Dr. Pricilla L. Minas, Dean of the College
of Physical Recreation and Sports, Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Maynila and Ms. Loreto Panganiban, Head
of the P.E. Department, Centro Escolar University.
BST 3A, obviously, the crowd favorite, was a vision
of green when they bagged the first place award in
the Buling-Buling Festival. BST 3B and 3F, also promising
dancers in their own right, won second place and
third place respectively. The very hyper and heart
pounding grooves of BST 4C landed them in the first
place. BST 4A, all clad in black and surprising the
audience with the sounds of their costumes of black
and silver coins won second place and lastly, the
dancers of BST 4B won third place in the MassKara
dance presentation. BST 3F, a vision of immaculate
colors and BST 4C, a group of vibrant pinks, yellows
and oranges got the award for Best Costume. Ms. Buling-Buling
from BST 3A was dressed in deep orange; she wore
a delicately designed veil. Ms. MassKara from BST
4C bagged the title. She had literally made jaws
drop during their dance, as she was clothed in a
shocking fuchsia ensemble.
Exciting festivals, great music, and smiling faces
that invigorate one’s spirit of nationalism,
patriotism and solidarity are experiences that not
only fill one’s heart with happiness, but also
experiences that inculcate Christian and Filipino
Values, great experiences CEU offers to its students.
Truly life happens here in CEU.
