Catch a Glimpse of San Benito’s Maritime History with the Bugsay-Lajag Race
San Benito town in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, is reliving its rich maritime heritage with the first Bugsay-Lajag Regatta held recently as part of its 52nd municipal foundation day celebration. Literally meaning rowing and sailing, Bugsay-Lajag is a race of traditional outrigger fishing boats mounted with a sail and participated in by local fishermen.
According to San Benito mayor Ma. Gina Sumando-Menil, the regatta is a recognition of the town’s rich marine resources and a tribute to the vital contribution of fishermen to the local economy.
She noted that the sailing tilt, now on its sixth edition, is a potential additional tourist recreational and adventure activity and source of income in Siargao with the fisherfolk themselves as bugsay-lajag instructors.
Situated on the island’s northwestern coast, San Benito’s tourist attractions include trekking at Mt Poneas and rafting at its hidden lake, cruising around the mangrove forest, and hopping around the uncrowded and powdery island beaches of Kangkangon, Pagbasayan, Litalit, Dahican and Kampayas, located just minutes away from each other.
The contiguous 2,000-hectare mangrove forest is a vital part of the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS), one of the biodiversity hotspots recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
San Benito will also soon open a 2-km zipline, the longest in Southeast Asia, which glides over the scenic mangrove forest and winds up in Litalit Island.
In photo at the Regatta’s opening ceremonies are San Benito mayor Gina Menil (center) and vice mayor Wellybel Requilme (fifth from left), along with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and First Gentleman Emmanuel Menil (fourth from left).
Cebu Pacific, which flies to Siargao daily from Manila and Cebu, is the official airline partner of the Bugsay Lajag Regatta.
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