The North Vista
Bangus Festival
by @SiRVis
A travel journal that will give you a pleasant view of people, places, food, culture, history and events from a refreshing perspective
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BANGUS Festival is Dagupan City’s annual festivity that highlights the rich milkfish aquaculture industry of the city and to further bolster its status as Bangus (milkfish) Capital of the World. Different fun and exciting socio-economic and cultural activities are staged for almost the whole month of April which will culminate on April 30 with a grand street party called Bangusan Street Party where 25,000 to 30,000 bangus raised from the fishponds of Dagupan are grilled in the “Kalutan” activity and on May 1, the Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival).
A Bangusan Village was set up at the De Venecia Extension road where a baratilyo (discount/ bargain trading place), a food court and the grand fiesta carnival are located. This will run until the city’s fiesta on June.
Prior to the grand opening, some events were held to drum up the excitement for the festival. The Beach Volleyball Republic returned to Dagupan to conduct a volleyball clinic for children and showcased an exhibition game by the beach volleyball players. Local skateboard fanatics competed with each other in “Skate the Tides”, a skateboarding competion which is on its fourth year. Slalom enthusiasts displayed their skills at the Invitational Slalom Race organized by the Dag Racers Dagupan Auto Group.
The grand opening dubbed “Fun, Fun, Fun ed Tondaligan” was held at Bonuan Blue Beach/ Tondaligan last April 16 with fun-filled activities like “Zumbangus”, “Galaw na Ogogaw”, and skim boarding competition. Dagupenos and tourists gyrated and did the Zumba, the popular dance fitness program with the participation of Congressaman Toff De Venecia and City Administrator Farah Decano, who represented Mayor Belen Fernandez as the mayor was still abroad that time. Galaw na Ogogaw (Children’s games) featured “guyuran ed buer” (tug of war), “palo sebo” (a traditional game that involves climbing a greased bamboo with one’s bare hands and feet to get the flag atop of it), and sack race among others. The 1st Tondaligan Blue Beach Skimboarding Cup featured a skimboarding clinic and open competition with participants from La Union and Zambales. Divson Abad of Zambales and Rioben Vivero of La Union won as Champion and 1st runner up respectively. Both are co-winners of the Best Skills award. The youngest competitor was Donald Longboy, a 10 year old from La Union. Dagupenos who showcased their skimboarding skills were: Lorenzo Mencias, Noff Carandang, Prince Noryega and Sergio Mencias. Kudos to the organizers (Lorenzo Karlo Mencias and Morgan Diaz) and members from Skim Your Heart Out! (Dagupan/Pangasinan Skimboarding Community)!
Catch more of the Bangus Festival activities in this column in the next issue of the Sunday Punch. For comments and suggestions, message The North Vista @thenorthvista on Facebook and Instagram.
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