Fifty-seven years after it was separated from Digos as a town in itself, Bansalan is now a first-class municipality. This was what the banners had been proclaiming during the town’s 57th anniversary.
“Our hard work has finally paid off,” said Mayor Edwin G. Reyes in an interview. A businessman before he became the town’s head, he has been dreaming of making Bansalan as one of Davao de Sur’s business centers and tourist destinations.
“With the audacity of courage, utmost perseverance and industry, we have carved the way from humble beginning to a progressive town,” said Mayor Reyes in his message during the town anniversary. “Today, our municipality is facing a brighter horizon.”
The one-week celebration kicked off in September 12 and culminated on the day Bansalan was declared as a town on itself, September 18. The celebration’s theme was: “Bansalan: Padayon sa Pinasahing Pag-uswag.”
The town was used to be a barangay of Santa Cruz. When Digos became a town, Bansalan -- named after the datu chieftain – was one of those areas included. Then in 1952, Bansalan was separated from Digos.
Several programs and activities were prepared during the week-long celebration. However, the most anticipated was the street dancing or more popularly known as Bansaulog (a combination of the town’s name, Bansalan, and saulog, the Visayan term for celebration).
Thousands of people – including foreigners – flocked to see the participants as they ramped, danced, shouted, sang, and performed in the town’s busy street. Despite the fact that the temperature was soaring, it did not deter the people to witness the 8 contingents (6 from elementary and 2 from high school) competing against each other.
“Bansaulog is truly unique,” said Mark Ryan Ortega, a photographer who has been documenting celebrations like this not only in Mindanao but in other parts of the country as well. “What I like about the street dancing here is that the contingents are homegrown. While the competition is not that intense compared to other street dancing contests I have covered, the participants have developed their skills and talents as they have to fight it out against their fellow Bansaleños.”
“I didn’t expect that people would clapped and cheered as each contingent performed before the arena,” observed Elsa N. Ablayon, a graduate from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, who accompanied her daughter who was one of the performers of the street dancing.
The showdown was held at the ground of Bansalan Central Elementary School. Each year, more people are trooping to the place to see the contingents to vie for the top prize. This year, the first place in the elementary division went to New Clarin Elementary School, whose performance left the audience in awe.
The Bansalan Central Elementary School snatched the second prize for its unique choreography, including the appearance of the “black bug” boys, which made the spectators to laugh and clap their hands.
Villa-Doneza Central Elementary School settled for the third prize.
In the high school division, the high school department of Holy Cross College of Bansalan took the first prize. Pedro Arches National High School of Managa got the second prize. Nazareth High School did not participate in the competition while Marber High School did an exhibition performance as it was already a grand slam winner in 2008.
On the day of the town’s anniversary, seven distinguished individuals were conferred the coveted Outstanding Bansaleño Award. Mayor Reyes himself conferred to the awardees during the anniversary program held at the ABC Gym.
The debonair lawyer, Atty. Israelito P. Torreon, led the awardees. He was cited for being the youngest president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Davao del Sur and for being the coach of the debating club of the Law School of Ateneo de Davao University, where he also teaches law.
The ever-youthful physician, Dr. Teofredo T. Esguerra, was named for being the team’s doctor of the climbers who did the historic Mount Everest expedition. While there, he helped several foreign climbers – and even saved the life of an Indonesian trekker. Dr. Esguerra is Southeast Asia’s only flight surgeon who’s an expert on wilderness emergency medical services.
Benjamin Lao, the third recipient, is a consistent winner. In 2008, the Department of Agriculture named him as one of the Gawad Saka awardees. Early this year, he received a Presidential Citation for microenterprise. And this month, he was named as the Region XI’s winner of One Town, One Product (OTOP) for the product he is promoting – the coco sugar and coco honey from coconut.
Two women awardees – Leila Rispens-Noel and Evelyn Bautista-Laguidao – are now both living in another country (Hong Kong and United States, respectively). In behalf of Rispens-Noel, her son Richard, received the award. On the other hand, Bautista-Laguidao was represented by Mrs. Rola Andal, herself an Outstanding Bansaleño awardee in the past.
Lispens-Noel was honored for being one of the most-sought speakers on microenterprise, overseas contract workers remittances, and women in development and for bringing together the former residents of Bansalan through the Association of Bansaleños Worldwide (ABW).
Bautista-Laguidao was given recognition for her work as a staff of the World Bank based in Washington, D.C. in bringing changes in the lives of the poor thereby uplifting the standards of living. She is also known for her charitable works not only in Bansalan but in other communities as well.
Two more doctors were cited for their community service in conducting medical and dental services: Dr. Sylvia Pesguerra-Bragat and Dr. Deogracias Chatto Lu, respectively. Both supported government’s as well as non-government organization’s programs.
Bansalan is the hometown of broadcast journalist Jay Sonza, bonsai expert Serapion Metilla, international singer Jojo Adlawan, national artist Salinta Monon, and TOYM recipient Warlito A. Laquihon. American Harold Ray Watson, a Ramon Magsaysay winner for peace and international understanding, used to work at the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center, which is located in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur
