DAGUPAN BANGUS INDUSTRY

THE vitality of Dagupan’s bangus industry was proven once more with the holding of the Bangus Rodeo on April 19 that again brought out the best made possible by the best unrelenting workers in the industry.

With the heat index in Dagupan reaching 46 Celsius, the highest in the Philippines that day, this year’s Bangus Rodeo was held for the first time from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., notwithstanding constraints requiring the milkfish entered into the contest had to be stored first in the coolers for hours.

Patrick Dizon, city agriculturist, said the board of judges led by DTI Provincial Director Natalia Dalaten decided on the following winners:

– Jay John Flores submitted the longest bangus that measured 92 centimeters. He said

he raised it in his fishpond for months, anticipating the holding of the 2023 Bangus Festival under Mayor Belen Fernandez

–  Karl Lawrence Sicat submitted his entry, measuring 83.5 centimeters and was declared first runner-up while Leo Garcia’s entry was 77 centimeters, second runner-up

The heaviest bangus that could not be easily lifted by an ordinary frail maiden was the entry of Kim John Flores that weighed 7.87 kilograms. Joana Grace Melendez turned in the second heaviest bangus at 3.39 kilograms to place first runner-up  The third heaviest, good for second runner-up honor, went to the entry of Joshua Doria at 3.32 kilograms.

The prettiest bangus, judged for its soft shining scales like the skin of a fair lady with a well trimmed contour body from head to tail, was the entry of Timothy Querisma, followed by the entry of Allan Doria and Danguelie Caguioa, as first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.

The Fastest Bangus Classifier was Melecio Melendez who classified two banyeras of bangus according to their sizes in one minute and 36.36 seconds, followed by Jonathan Campos at one minute and 44.7 seconds, while Alejo Torio did it in one minute and 49.31 seconds.

The fastest deboner was Jeffrey Bandera who deboned bangus in just one minute and 15.43 seconds, followed by Pedro Roman in one minute and 18.30 seconds and Marilyn Ugaban in one minute and 48.73 seconds.

Not to be outdone were the Fastest Bangus Eaters topped by Jaime Bucao Jr, as champion, followed by Ruben Serra, first runner-up.

The Bangus Rodeo was a day in the Bangus Festival especially dedicated to the  fishpond and fish cage owners, their caretakers and workers, and those who trade bangus and their workers.

Former City Councilor Karlos Reyna said there were pure glee and excitement in the first Bangus Rodeo after the pandemic, an indication that the bangus industry in Dagupan has recovered and is recovering from three years of slack.  (Leonardo Micua)

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