"Festivals of the North" returns in 2009 Dagupan Bangus Festival

WITH all its colors, surprise and excitement, the "Festivals of the North" will return to spice up the 2009 Dagupan Bangus Festival, whose preparation is already in full swing less than two months before the event slated on April 15 to May 1.

At least 20 towns and 10 cities have already confirmed their participation in a street dancing showdown by great festival champions, all of whom will unfold before the eyes during the Dagupan Bangus Festival.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who chairs anew the executive committee of this year’s festival, said because of the big number of participating delegations from Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Central Luzon, they have divided the competition in two categories, one for cities and another for municipalities.

She expects up to 40 towns and cities to see action in the "Festivals of the North", whose maiden appearance and electrifying performance in the 2008 Bangus Festival was well applauded.

It was the tourists and the Dagupan public who called on Vice Mayor Fernandez to bring back what could be called the tournments of great festival champions, with an additional prayer that this be made a permanent fixture in future bangus festivals.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. approved the expanded "Festivals of the North" as well as the increased pot money to be awarded to winners.

Interests in the “Festivals of the North” is continuously growing as organizers agreed to increase the prices for winners in each category at P200,000 for first prize, P100,000 for second prize and P50,000 for third prize.

On top of this, the executive committee is giving special prizes to entries that will be adjudged as best in costumes, best in choreography and others.

Among those earliest to confirm their participation are Mapandan, Pangasinan, and Agoo, La Union, co-champions in last year’s “Festivals of the North” with their rendition of winning street dancing featured in their “Pandan Festival” and “Dinengdeng Festival”, respectively.

Baguio City and two delegations from Tarlac City have also confirmed their participation, thus making the “Festivals of the North”, a tri-regional activity for the Ilocos, Cordilera and Central Luzon.

She said all those participating in the "Festivals of the North" are allowed to bring their own One Town One Product ( OTP) for sale in booths that will be provided for them.

The 2009 Bangus Festival will open with a bang with the holding of “Gilon-gilon” to be participated in by street dancers from 31 barangays of the city.

Gilon-gilon as a street dance was first choreographed and patented during the Golden Anniversary of Dagupan cityhood in 1995 chaired also by Vice Mayor Fernandez when she was still a city councilor.

The dance movement and its unique rythm depicted the primitive but still effective way of harvesting bangus in ponds and pens by the city's unrelenting fish farmers.

The cookfest by the city's restaurant chefs, “bangus rodeo”, “tunog bangus”, food strip, Great Dagupan Day Sale, Bangus Street Party will likewise return, along with the first of its kind "Pigar-Pigar" Festival and "Halo-halo TamaLamig".

Fernandez said that the featured Bangusan Street Party, where from six to seven famous Manila bands are coming, will be held at the Jose R. de Venecia Highway Expressway Extension for the safety and comnfort of the people attending. # Leonardo Micua