The North Vista

By August 15, 2017Archives, Opinion

ASEAN 50 Celebration in Dagupan

 

By @SiRVis 

A travel journal that will give you a pleasant view of people, places, food, culture, history and events from a refreshing perspective

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam then joined on January 7, 1984, Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN. ASEAN is both the world’s seventh-largest market and third-largest labor force, and has been projected to become the fourth-largest economic bloc by 2030. Additionally, the group established the ASEAN Economic Community last year to create a single market and production base—facilitating even closer economic, political, social, and cultural cooperation.

The Philippines hosted this year’s ASEAN summit which coincided with a historic milestone event—the 50th anniversary of the founding of Association. It is a celebration of ASEAN’s shared success for the last 50 years and a vision to the future as everyone work hand in hand to be partners for real change. Dagupan City enjoined the whole country in celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN. It is one of the 76 Local Government Units throughout the Philippines that organized such commemoration. Dagupan’s chief executive Mayor Belen T. Fernandez spearheaded the event together with more than 5,000 Dagupenos and visitors from other municipalities in a whole day affair comprised of an ASEAN food festival and bazaar at the Senior Citizen’s Park at the City Plaza, a grand parade, a cultural program and the nationwide simultaneous lantern lighting to culminate the celebration.

The ASEAN food festival and bazaar featuring South East Asian cuisine and decors were set up by different Dagupan schools. The usherettes of the booths even wore costumes from the country which they represent. Carael Elementary School prepared an Eat All You Can dinner buffet showcasing some ASEAN countries’ food and delicacies.

The grand parade started from Burgos St. corner Perez Blvd. going to M.H. Del Pilar St., A.B. Fernandez Ave. and ended at the Dagupan City Plaza. Mayor Belen T. Fernandez led parade along with the different city officials, department heads and city hall employees, officials of the DepED, teachers and students from the public and private schools. It was the pupils that captured the delight of the onlookers as they donned the costumes of the ASEAN countries. They also carried with them giant flags of the 10 member countries of the ASEAN. A wonderful cultural spectacle ensued after the parade featuring students from different schools in Dagupan.

Seven lanterns, six bearing the logo of ASEAN and the other bearing the seal of Dagupan City, were lighted at 7PM simultaneous nationwide highlighted with a majestic fireworks display.

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