Bangus Festival kicks off
THE countdown is on for the Dagupan Bangus Festival which opens on April 15 featuring a long list of events until its culmination on May 1.
The installation of light posts along the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension, the venue for several events, is now being completed in time for the opening on Wednesday.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the 2009 Dagupan Bangus Festival, is confident everything will fall into place as all efforts are being exerted to make the celebration a success.
She said Dagupan is ready for the 16-day fest, dubbed as the “mother of all festivals in the Ilocos Region” particularly because of the Festivals of the North Street Dancing Competition showcasing the best groups from Region 1 and other parts of northern Luzon will be held in the city.
Aside from high-lighting the customs and traditions of Dagupan and the city’s number one agricultural product, bangus, other products from the northern Luzon area will also be given exposure through booths in the trade fair.
The opening ceremonies at the city plaza will be led by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., Vice Mayor Fernandez, members of the city council who are each chairing an each, other city officials and members of this year’s executive committee.
In the afternoon of April 15 starting at 1:00 p.m., the Gilon-Gilon ed Baley will be presented featuring Gilon-Gilon dancers from the city’s 31 barangays, Dagupan City National High School, Jose de Venecia Memorial School, St. John School and the Divine Word Academy of Dagupan.
The competition will execute dance steps of people harvesting bangus that was choreographed and patented in 1995 during Dagupan’s 50th anniversary celebration chaired by then Councilor Belen Fernandez.
Fernandez said all the barangays, led by defending champion Mangin, have been rehearsing since two months ago and are now ready for the event.
The opening day also includes the opening too of the Great Dagupan Sale along the city’s main streets, the Bangus Food Strip along Galvan Street and the Tunog Bangus Battle of the Bands on Galvan Street.
The Dagupan Singing B chaired by Councilor Farah Marie Decano will be held at the Food Strip Stage, while Hataw Sayaw, Hataw Dagupan chaired by Councilor Librada Reyna, will be staged the following day.
On April 18, the following activities will be held: the first Pigar-Pigar Festival on Galvan Street, chaired by Councilor Luis Samson Jr.; the Pet Fashion Show at City Mall Big Atrium by the Venerable Knight-Ladies Veterinarian Confraternity and Animal Life Clinic and the Bangusfest Extreme Off-Road Challenge on De Venecia Extension, which will continue until April 19.
The first Bangus Festival Milo Summer Sports Clinic Caravan will be held at the CSI Stadia from April 21 to 22.
Dagupan’s pride, master photographer Raymond Sto. Domingo, will hold a solo photo exhibit at the CSI the City Mall from April 21 to 27. Also on April 22, the Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. Bowling Cup reels off and will last until the 25th.
A Halo-Halo Festival will also be held at the Senior Citizens Park for two days from April 23 to 24. The Bangus Cookfest with GMA Kapuso chefs will be held at the Plaza Stage on April 24 with the SK Street Party “Takin’ The BaR to the Streets” slated on the same day along A.B. Fernandez Avenue.
The exciting Festivals of the North, to be participated in by 33 local government units, with Iloilo’s Dinagyang, Cebu’s Sinulog and Mapandan’s Pandan dancers as guest performers, is set on April 27.
The other events are GMA Kapuso Care at the People’s Astrodome on April 28, Globe Day on April 29 at the City Plaza, CSI Summer Home Fair at CSI Stadia, the Bangussan Street Party on Jose de Venecia Expressway Extension, featuring up to 14 bands, and the Pista’y Dayat on May 1 at the Tondaligan Beach.—LM
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