Sponsors to bankroll Bangus Festival 2014
AN END TO P3-M SEED MONEY
UNLIKE in earlier Bangus Festivals under the past city administration, this year’s celebration from April 1 to May 1 will be bankrolled mainly by sponsors from the private sector.
This was bared by Mayor Belen Fernandez during a press conference last March 10 and said that under her watch, the city will rely heavily on private sponsors through donations mostly in kind and not from the city coffers.
Under the previous administration, the holding of the festival was supported by a P3 million seed money from the city government, a policy disallowed by the Commission on Audit.
Some companies will reportedly sponsor bands and artists to entertain the crowd, while others agreed to shoulder costs of food and ingredients in support of the Bangus International Cuisine Showdown or Bangusine, said Fernandez.
Fernandez identified some of the major sponsors as Smart Communications, Inc., San Miguel Corporation, GMA 7, ABS-CBN, Jollibee, MacDonald’s, and her family’s own CSI Group of Companoes, among others.
Jollibee and MacDonald’s for example, are donating P100,000 worth of food each for the participants.
GMA, which whom she signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with, will cover the Festivals of the North live and broadcast it both on its national and international networks.
“Wala po tayong budget but only for the promotion of Arts and Culture and only for the Gilon Gilon ed Dalan,” said Fernandez.
Donations in cash will also be properly acknowledged by the executive committee, Fernandez pointed out.
Budget for the expenses of the 31 barangays on costumes, props and gears of their dancers participating in the Gilon-Gilon Ed Dalan set on April 22 will be sourced from the annual budget of arts and culture.
The Gilon-gilon winner will represent the city in the Festivals of the North, which is a showdown of the best street dancers north of Manila.
Fernandez admitted that due to a false TV report about a “flesh-eating bacterial disease” supposedly spreading in the province last month, some sponsors initially had second thoughts of joining the festival.
“It’s good that this was corrected before it did some damages to the city and province, bringing back the confidence of tourists and investors,” she added.
EVENTS
Aside from the usual activities, this year’s Bangus Festival will feature nine new events.
Among these are the Bangus Fun Fiesta Pilipinas 2nd National Performing Arts Competitions; SPEEDO G-LEAGUE Bangus Festival Swim Cup; Tri-Bangus Triathlon Race in Dagupan; Skate the Tides Bangus Festival Skate Competition; Bangus Festival 1st International Green Camp 2014; Pawil Pangasinan, Dumog ed Dagupan; Bulding The Future (BTF): Bangus Festival Mega Job Fair and Awarding of Scholarships Day; Bangus Festival National Dance Convention (DEAP); and Bangusine (Bangus Cuisine) International Cook Fest.
The Gilon-Gilon ed Baley, Bangus Festivals of the North, Bangus Rodeo, and Bangusan Street Party will remain as main events.
There will also be a Bangus Festival Trade Fair One Barangay, One Product; Bangus Festival Food Strip; Bangus Fun Fiesta Pilipinas Parade of Costumes; Bangus Festival Regional Induction of the Federation of the Senior Citizens Region 1 Chapter; Bangus Festival Pets Day and Dog Fashion Show 2014; Bangus Festival One Kapamilya Run; Bangus Festival Top Cop Challenge; Bangus Festival Kapamilya Karavan; Beat The Feat (BTF) Bangus Festival Hip-hop Dance Contest; Kapuso Bangus Festival; Bangus Summit; 1st Mayor Belen T. Fernandez Cup Open Invitational Amateur Kickboxing Tournament, Bangus Festival Kapuso Mall Show; Bangus Festival Pressure Shooting Contest; Bangus Festival Bombo Radyo Day; Bangus Festival 2014 Open Chess Tournament; Splash in the Sky; Seafood Festival; Fluvial Parade; Dagupan Beach Body, Beach Party at Bonuan; and Bangus Festival Medical Mission.—LVM with report from CIO
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
