Bangus Festival ends with a bang
DANCING, GRILLING AND PARTYING
TONS, literally, of bangus were cooked at grilling stations lined at the main streets of Dagupan as the city capped the 2012 Bangus Festival on April 30 with the traditional “Kalutan ed Dalan and Street Party.”
About six tons of bangus were grilled in more than a thousand stations set up along A.B. Fernandez Avenue and Perez Boulevard for the commemoration of Dagupan’s world record of having the longest grill.
The city was logged in the Guinness World Record for the longest Bangus grill at 1.3 kilometers in May 3, 2003.
“Kaya tayo nandito ay para magpasalamat sa masaganang ani ng bangus at para patunayan na tayo nga ang Bangus capital of the world,” said Mayor Benjamin S. Lim during the opening ceremony of the Kalutan.
LET THE GRILLING BEGIN— Residents and visitors watch
the grills’ charcoal burn during the ceremonial lighting up of the grills
to signal the start of “Kalutan ed Dagupan”.
In foreground are city officials walking to the plaza.
(Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)
At the Kalutan were Senators Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Koko Pimentel, Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, 4th District Representative Gina De Venecia, TESDA Director-General Joel Villanueva, and Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim.
The Kalutan was followed by a street party featuring famous local bands and artists despite a one-hour delay due to a sudden heavy downpour.
INIHAW GALORE— A “kalutan” enthusiast” prepares
for his family’s meal for the evening.
(Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)
GILON-GILON
Prior to the night event, the Gilon-Gilon Ed Dalan, filled the streets of Dagupan with a parade of colourful costumes and lively chants and dances.
As in previous years, all 31 barangays participated with a representative group each in the Gilon-Gilon, meaning, “harvesting the milkfish from the fishpond”.
The groups performed their dances, a mimicry of the harvesting process, along AB Fernandez Avenue and Perez Boulevard.
Dagupeños and visitors watched the main performances of the groups at the City Plaza.
Barangay Lucao was adjudged champion and awarded the Best in Costume and the Best in Street Dancing.
In first to fourth runner-up positions are Barangays Mangin, Pogo Cico, Bonuan Binloc, and Tebeng.
The oldest among the participating dancers was Rene Edades of Barangay Mamalingling at 39.
“In dancing, age does not matter for as long as you are happy with what you are doing,” he said.
“We do not have ‘salary’ for what we do, but all expenses were paid for, our snacks, costumes, and props. And I am also doing this for myself, not only because of my passion for dancing, but as a past-time while I am still not working,” Edades said.—Markfil Tersol and Maria Leene Camo, UPB
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