by Carine M. Asutilla (ABS-CBN News Central Visayas)

"Way Buga" is a Cebuano expression for "no smoking".

Just this month, Amlan celebrated the second Way Buga Festival with a theme "Amlan: Soaring High, Model of A Smoke-Free Community."

Amlan pioneered the anti-smoking ordinance in 2009 making them the first Local Government Unit (LGU) in Negros Oriental to declare war against smoking.

The eight barangays of Amlan were grouped into four contingents for street dancing and showdown at the town plaza.

The contingent showed props of no-smoking signs. Their dances told a story about the negative effects of smoking to the health and the environment, as well as the benefits the community get for being smoke-free.

--- photo by John Dx Lapid