A FEATHER IN DAGUPAN’S CAP

THE biggest street party, indeed, says the Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Bangus Festival and it has vowed it’s full support to the annual Dagupan City celebration, scheduled this year from April 15 to April 31.

DOT Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab announced DOT’s support to the 9th Dagupan Bangus Festival at a press conference, noting the size of the crowd, estimated at around 700,000 that joined last year’s street party held at the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway Extension.

Palabyab also praised the Bangus Festival for having succeeded in bringing together the local government and private sectors for a festival that promotes the city and its products to the whole world.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who headed the Dagupan delegation for the press conference, said she expects 30 per cent more over last year’s attendance coming to participate in the Bangusan Street Party this year set on the night of April 30.

DOT officials said neighboring towns of Pangasinan should “not feel jealous” about its support to Dagupan because the benefits from the Bangus Festival trickles down to adjacent areas.

For his part, DOT Regional Director Valera noted that over the past five years, the Bangus Festival had grown better and bigger.

“From a mere celebration of the city to promote its most important product (bangus), it has grown into something like an icon which we in the Ilocos Region had always looked forward to participate in,” Valera said.

The “Festivals of the North”, one of the highlights of the Bangus Festival, is a street dancing competition participated in by groups not just from Pangasinan but also from the Ilocos region, Baguio City, Pampanga and Zambales.

Fernandez said that while the festival is meant to thank God for giving the fishermen a bountiful harvest year-round, it is also designed to boost the local industry and allied businesses.

“This is what we call the festivals of economics which means that they (in Daguipan) are not only holding festivals but also putting some objectives which could benefit the whole community,” Fernandez said. 
 
In an interview with local media, Palabyab said he is impressed with the new features and programs being introduced by the city government in the Bangus Festival.—LM

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments