By Eva C Visperas

 

BOTH Limgas na Pangasinan and Kalutan ed Dalan were the major highlights of Pista’y Dayat and Bangus Festival respectively. Both showcased the province’s best: food, beauty, hospitality, culture and tourism potential as well.

It was a good thing that both were celebrated on two different days and places – The Limgas search was in Lingayen on April 29 while the Kalutan was in Dagupan on the 30th. Both complemented each other and enabled more people to come and enjoy what Pangasinan had to offer.

It was my first time to watch the proclamation night of Limgas na Pangasinan held in front of the majestic Capitol building. Unfortunately, we were seated in an area where we could not actually see what’s on stage so we settled to watch it instead on the big LED screen.

Miss Bolinao had the biggest number of euphoric supporters, followed by Miss Rosales.

I was rooting for Miss Binmaley, not because I am a native of the town, but because I saw in her the qualities of a beauty queen in all angles since the day the Press Presentation for the Limgas candidates was held.

Ms. Minnie Alcaide who’s like an adopted daughter of Binmaley because of the now famous AREM’s restaurant owned by her son, was also in another row of attendees cheering for Miss Binmaley.

While the production was quite entertaining, it was rather too long, having to watch it for four grueling hours punctuated by cultural presentations, long spiels of the pageant hosts, and entertainment numbers by artists from a giant TV network, awarding of minor prizes plus another recorded introduction of the top five finalists and something special about their town. It was too much. I hope this will be cut short like into two hours only so that the expected excitement that builds up will not suddenly wane.

Kudos goes to First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico who exerted best efforts to bring the Limgas search to be at par with the national level.

Congratulations to the winners of the 49th Limgas na Pangasinan 2023 Grand Coronation Night: Nikhisa Cheveh from Binmaley as Limgas na Pangasinan-World; Mangaldan’s banner bearer Rona Lalaine Lopez as Limgas na Pangasinan-Grand; statuesque Stacey De Ocampo from Bolinao as Limgas na Pangasinan-Mutya; Denise Joy Flores from Lingayen and Eeika Mae Antolin from Urdaneta City 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.

Meanwhile in Dagupan City, it was a star-studded return for Kalutan ed Dalan on April 30.  There were some 20 Diplomats led by Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, Dean of the Diplomatic Corp, s Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Soc Villegas, plus socialite, entrepreneur and one of the country’s top vloggers Small Laude with her husband Philip, himself a business mogul, and her billionaire sister Alice Eduardo who were invited by JDV, Manay and Cong Toff de Venecia, and another supportive friend of the De Venecias, Cong. Rachel Arenas, who joined the ceremonial lighting of the kalutan.

Senator and presidential sister Imee Marcos, who arrived earlier, visited the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at the CSI Atrium and had to fly back to Metro Manila to attend another equally important event.

Seen also from the early morning fun run up to the late afternoon’s Kalutan was DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos while Senator Francis Tolentino, DOH’s dancing doctor Usec Eric Tayag and a lot more were all smiles as they moved around the Kalutan.

Mayor Belen Fernandez and her team did an incredible job once more as the Kalutan along de Venecia Highway proved to be a consistent crowd drawer, with an estimated 600,000 revelers joining this year’s merrymaking, enjoying to the entertainment provided in different stages with top and popular Metro Manila bands singing their hit songs to the crowd’s delight all night, swooning, shouting, dancing, grooving, singing.

The Kalutan ed Dalan at the De Venecia Highway is undoubtedly, no matter what the naysayers say, the most attended fiesta event not only in Pangasinan but in entire Region 1.

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