Kalutan ed Dalan hailed as biggest street party
2017 BANGUS FESTIVAL
THE Kalutan ed Dalan Street Party of the Bangus Festival held on April 30 this city, is the biggest street party.
This was the on site assessment of Martin Valera, Department of Tourism Region 1 director “I think (this year) is the biggest street party. Congratulations, Dagupan,” he said.
Valera, who attended Dagupan Bangus Festival for 12 years, particularly the Kalutan ed Dalan, lauded Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez for “leveling up the activity every year, making it all the more well-organized”.
P/Superintendent Franklin Ortiz, Dagupan police chief, said in a separate text message to The PUNCH that the estimated crowd was almost 800,000 from Sunday night up to 3:00 a.m. Monday when the street party ended.
Ortiz said “no major untoward incident recorded”.
The Kalutan ed Dalan here remains a blockbuster of the festival and anticipated by people from different parts of Pangasinan who flock to the city every April 30 to either experience or enjoy grilling the famous and tastiest bangus (milkfish) along the long stretch of the new De Venecia Highway.
The more than 3.5 kilometers De Venecia Highway extension, was packed with merrymakers for a night-long fun of grilling, dining, singing and dancing while live bands in nine stages from top musical performers and artists entertained them.
Some 14,000 pieces or 4,500 kilos of bangus were grilled in 900 grill pads that were sold to various groups by the city government, packaged with charcoal, hotdogs, soda and tent. The people brought in more food to partake up to the wee hours.
Senator Sonny Angara, Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia and Mayor Fernandez led the ceremonial lighting of the grills that signaled the simultaneous grilling of bangus. Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, his wife, former Rep. Gina de Venecia joined the celebration.
Rep. De Venecia said the festival is one big opportunity that promotes Dagupan’s tourism and hospitality. He launched his online photo contest for the Bangus Festival titled “Capturing Dagupan Vibrancy” and the winners were announced that evening.
For her part, Mayor Fernandez said every year, their efforts in trying to improve Kalutan ed Dalan paid off with the ever increasing number of people who come and join the street party. “It’s worth it when you see the results,” Fernandez said.
She said the yearly holding of the Kalutan ed Dalan contributes to city’s economy, particularly, the promotion of bangus, the city’s prime product.
Epee Rafanan, chairman of the Bangus Festival 2017, was animated when he thanked the sponsors, the city government employees, the media and thousands of Dagupeňos who made the event very successful. (Eva Visperas)
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