Sison Auditorium: Hub of arts and culture

LINGAYEN–With its new home in the refurbished Sison Auditorium, Pangasinan art and culture can now be truly revived, nurtured and promoted.   

The Sison Auditorium, reopened April 5 during the first celebration of Agew na Pangasinan, now serves as museum and archives for historical documents and other artifacts and as a venue for cultural performances and conventions.

Governor Amado Espino Jr., who initiated the auditorium’s restoration and personally supervised some of the work on the interior design, said the auditorium’s reopening paves the way for an “aggressive effort to revive, promote, and preserve genuine Pangasinan theater arts and culture”.

Constructed in 1927, the Sison Auditorium was named after the late Pangasinan Governor Teofilo Sison who also served as the first national defense secretary from Pangasinan.

The new look of the Sison Auditorium is a blend of old and new architectural design, and is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting system.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who joined Espino and other provincial leaders in cutting the ceremonial ribbon, was profuse in praises for the restoration project.

“I have never seen the Sison Auditorium as beautiful as it is now,” said the former President who was born in Lingayen as he reminisced the structure’s old grandeur before it was left to deteriorate for years.

Espino said the Sison Auditorium’s revival, alongside the setting of Pangasinan’s Day and the enhancement of other attractions within the Capitol grounds, is part of the aim to strengthen the sense of identity in all Pangasinenses.

“I am deeply honored that these things were realized under my administration,” Espino said.

Espino also initiated use of the Pangasinan language at the provincial capitol and the revival of local zarzuela and local songs as part of the activities during the annual Pista’y Dayat festival on May 1.—LM

Mrs. Priscilla Espino cuts the ceremonial ribbon marking the inauguration of the Sison Auditorium, assisted by her husband, Governor Amado Espino Jr.

Guests and visitors are awed by the magnificence of the refurbished Sison Auditorium whose restoration was meticulously supervised by Governor Espino.

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Parada na Dayew features Pangasinan’s evolution into province

LINGAYEN–Thousands of Pangasinenses converged last April 5 at the main thoroughfares here in the capital to catch a glimpse of the history of Pangasinan unfold through a float and civic parade as Pangasinan celebrated its 430th Founding Anniversary.

The Parada na Dayew float parade, one of the highlights of the first celebration of Agew na Pangasinan, featured 12 colorful floats showcasing the various phases and events in the history of Pangasinan, depicting the major eras or periods of its existence.

The eras depicted by the 12 floats started from the pre-Hispanic period; 1572; 1574-1575; 1580 when Pangasinan was organized into an Alcaldia or province ; 1660-1762; establishment of Casa Real in 1840; Pangasinan’s liberation from Spanish rule in July 22, 1898; Philippine-American War in 1899; inauguration of Capitol building in 1919; Japanese invasion in 1941; landing of Allied Forces in 1945; and the Pangasinan Golden Era from 2007 to present.

Contingents from the various towns of the province and other civic groups took part in the grand and historic celebration with street dancers, drum and bugle corps and drum and lyre groups from different schools adding fun and merriment to the parade.

The colorful floats featured how Pangasinan evolved into a province since it was founded in 1580 until the present time with the blossoming of the Golden Era under the administration of Gov. Amado T. Espino Espino, Jr.

The establishment of the founding day of Pangasinan was an initiative of Espino who said that Pangasinenses deserve to know their point of origin.

Espino created a research and study committee composed of researchers and historians headed by Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque, president of Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City.

Other activities that highlighted the Agew na Pangasinan celebration were the blessing of the newly renovated Sison Auditorium, groundbreaking of the eco-tourism zone in Estanza, Lingayen, ASNA Grand Ball and awarding of outstanding Pangasinenses, and a concert featuring local and national bands.

The different floats feature the historical phases in the evolution of Pangasinan, from pre-Spanish period to the coming of the Spaniards led by Capt. Juan de Salcedo and onto the Pangasinan Golden Era.

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Spectacular Fireworks Display mark the dawning of Pangasinan’s Golden Era

GOVERNOR Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the public viewing of the spectacular fireworks display that capped the whole day celebration of the first ever Agew na Pangasinan last April 5 at the Capitol Beach Front. 
 
Some 30,000 revelers from all walks of life stood in awe and marveled as a kaleidoscope of colors and an array of shapes lit up the sky for over 20 minutes.

Before the fireworks started, Espino addressed the crowd and led the multitude in greeting the province a happy birthday, as everyone shouted in chorus, “Happy Birthday Pangasinan!”

“You, the young generation, amin ya ya gagawaen mi diad probinsiya para ed sicayo ya untumbok ed sikami ya manuley ed sayay probinsiya tayo,” Espino said to the spectators of mostly teenagers who flocked to the beach to witness the night-long concert dubbed “Konsyerto ed Kapitolyo.”

Starting at 7:00 in the evening, various local performed their own compositions and popular contemporary songs to the delight of the crowd that danced and sang along.

National band Emil Sanglay’s Pen-pen had the audience glued to their places as the band belted out its music about Philippine culture and love for Mother Nature.

When Rivermaya went onstage, it was all euphoria when they rendered their classic rock songs “214”, “Himala”, “Ulan”, “Awit ng Kabataan” and many others.

Kimberly Caronongan and Israh Kamille Cruz, both third year students of Pangasinan National High School, could not hide their excitement and said of the celebration, “Masaya talaga ang selebrasyon ng Pangasinan Day. What a way para i-celebrate natin ang kaarawan ng probinsiya.”

Meanwhile, Giano Charl Fernandez, a 10-year old boy from Bugallon who came to witness the fireworks display, said, “Maganda talaga, parang New Year.”

The celebration continued up to the wee hours as “Ang Banda ni ATE,” a group made up of provincial government employees, capped the concert.

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