AFTER two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dagupan City Bangus Festival is back.

In a press conference on Friday, April 1, Dagupan City Mayor Marc Brian Lim said this year’s Bangus Festival marks not only the return of the city’s flagship feast, but also a thanksgiving for the Dagupeños’ resiliency.

“This year’s Bangus Festival on April 18 is a thanksgiving, as we have managed to survive the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lim.

It will also be the first Bangus Festival of the administration of Lim since he took over as city mayor in 2019 and a trademark will be launched.

“The new logo will be the standard logo for this year and for future Bangus Festivals”, said Lim.

On April 19, a River Cruise Dock along Dawel River, called Pisasalamat ed Ilog (Thanksgiving for the River), will be held.

On April 24, a cycling event at the De Venecia Extension is scheduled, followed by a Youth Festival on April 26 at the Dagupan City Plaza, and a Mass Wedding on April 27.

On April 28, the Festival’s Bangus Rodeo, an event that includes the search of largest, heaviest, and even prettiest bangus, search for the fastest bangus eater, and bangus deboner.

The festival’s highlight, the Kalutan ed Dalan (Barbecue on the Street), will take place on April 30. More than 1,000 barbecue grills have been prepared for the event, of which 800 have already been reserved and purchased.

Around 4,500 kilograms, equivalent to more or less 12,600 bangus heads, will be harvested for the Kalutan event alone.

Five stages will be established along the stretch of the city’s central business district, for live bands and other entertainers.

Under normal circumstances, the month-long celebration in the city is planned at least eight months prior.

This year’s festival was organized with limited time constraint, resulting in only seven events.

“Eight months ago we are still suffering under the pandemic. We could not imagine that we would be able to push through”, said Lim.

With at least ten sponsors pledging their support, the festival was pushed on a short notice.

Homecoming

Lim said this year’s festival will be returned to its roots – right at the heart of Dagupan City, when former Mayor Benjamin Lim, Brian’s father and father of the festival, launched the first Bangus Festival in 2002.

One year later, on May 3, 2003, the city’s attempt to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records bore fruit as it took the title of ‘World’s longest barbecue’, through its main event, the Kalutan ed Dalan.

After the late Lim’s loss at the mayoralty race against then-vice mayor Belen Fernandez on 2013, the Kalutan was relocated to De Venecia Extension.

Health concerns

Lim is confident that they can hold the Bangus Festival safely and in accordance with IATF protocols.

As of March 31, 2022, Dagupan City has achieved a vaccination rate of 173%. (Ahikam Pasion)

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