More than just a festival

THIS year’s celebration of the Dagupan Bangus Festival is particularly special because the event has recently been officially certified by the Department of Tourism as the “biggest street” party in the Philippines. That is quite a feat for the nine-year old fiesta vis-à-vis the many other much older and well-known festivals around the country.

But more than just being a big-time party, the Bangus Festival also serves as one of the best showcases for private and public sector cooperation. The long line of events prepared for the two-week celebration involves both the local government officials from the barangay to the city level and the city’s small, medium and big private enterprises. While the big companies are given an opportunity for advertising exposure through event sponsorships, the small and medium entrepreneurs such as the bangus farmers, pigar-pigar and halo-halo stall owners and even the street vendors get a chance to promote their trade.

Over the years, the festival has grown more and more in terms of providing economic opportunities not just for Dagupenos but also for other Pangasinenses and entrepreneurs in neighboring provinces, especially with this year’s trade fair featuring the One Town, One Product program. With the bangus, Dagupan’s most prominent product,  remaining at the core of the celebration, the festival has managed to expand into a distinct occasion for propping up trade and industry.

At the same time, the Bangus Festival, through its Festivals of the North street dancing competition, has also become a vehicle for fostering cultural exchange within northern Luzon, including the regions of Ilocos and the Cordilleras.

Furthermore, this year, the children also get special focus with the opening day of the festival on April 16 dedicated to activities geared toward the city’s young population.

However, the Bangus Festival 2010 also faces the trappings of the elections scheduled on May 10. Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who has been heading the festival’s overall organizing committee in the last three years, has warned politicians against taking advantage of the celebration for their campaign. Our politicians better comply, lest they be shamed with being tagged as the Bangus Festival party-poopers.

So, let the party begin!

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