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Countdown to Bangus Festival 2009

2009-04-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

I've had the privilege of working with Vice-Mayor Belen Fernandez in last year's spectacular staging of the Bangus Festival and people who work for her will agree with me that her work-ethic is amazing. With the opening less than a few weeks away, I expect her (just as these pictures will show) to have everyone on the committees on their toes. This is really not about perfection, but about how things should be done the right way.

Guesting on the DZMM morning program hosted by Winnie Cordero and Ariel Ureta (top pic), VM Fernandez makes a pitch to the entire country (and why not???) that all roads on April 15 should lead to Dagupan City for some fun and fresh, grilled Bonuan Bangus. Ever the hands-on manager that she has always been since those heady days of City Supermarket, she inspects the promotional signage of the festival at a Dagupan street corner.

The Final Schedule of Events!

2009-04-01T20:31:00.001-07:00

Insider

2009-03-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

Bangus Festival 2009 chairman Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez listens to an update from members of the events committee.

Big discounts await bangus festival-goers

2009-03-27T01:39:00.000-07:00

Business establishments in Dagupan City will go on a city-wide sale and offer up to 50% discounts on their products during the Great Dagupan Sale on April 15 to 30 in line with the city’s celebration of the 2009 Bangus Festival.

According to Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, the festival is not just about fun and merry-making but also to make the celebration more affordable and meaningful to be enjoyed by the festival-goers especially during these times of global financial crisis.

“The great Dagupan sale will surely enhance the public’s merriment as we take into consideration their needs and sentiments by cutting down the prices of commodities,” the vice mayor stressed.

On March 26, the Vice Mayor with Peter Fernandez of PANDA along with some members of the events committee, paid visits to the different business establishments owners to ask for their participation in the city-wide sale and was elated to announce that majority of them confirmed their full support for the activity.

During the festival, Fernandez said the business establishments will go on sale and offer their products including food and dry goods at discounted prices for two weeks.

The vice mayor said that a uniform tarpaulin from the festival secretariat will be distributed to the participating establishments plus a CD of the official soundtrack of the Bangus Festival.

The participants will also be allowed to set up at least two tables in front of their establishment without an additional charge to display their products and goods. (leziel)

Mag-ihaw na!

2009-03-27T01:36:00.001-07:00

Trip na trip nyo bang mag party sa Bangusan Street Party sa Abril 30?

Huwag makutento sa pakikinig ng musika at sayawan kasama aang barkada sapagkat hindi kumpleto ang kasiyahan kung walang bangus na iihawin sa Bangusan Street Party na gaganapin sa De Venecia Highway Extension.

Sinabi ni Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman ng 2009 Bangus Festival na maari nang bumili ng mga grills o pag iihawan sa halagang P2,500 lamang kasama na ang mga kakailanganin gaya ng bangus, Maggi Magic Sarap na tunay na pampasarap ng iluluto nyo, uling, posporo, apron, tongs at sunvisor.

Kung meron naman na kayong grills na nabili sa mga nakalipas na Bangusan Street Party, magbayad lamang ng P850 para sa mga iba pang gagamitin gaya ng bangus, uling, apron, sunvisor, posporo at Maggi Magic Sarap.

Pumunta lamang sa City Museum ng Dagupan at hanapin si Teresa Raga o si Cristy o tumawag sa telepono numero 5158425.

Kapag maaaga kayong bibili, may tsansa pa kayong pumili ng gustung-gusto ninyong lugar na paglalagyan ng inyong grills sapagkat ito ay first-come, first served basis lamang.-#

Mayor Al Fernandez Cup 2009

2009-03-26T01:51:00.000-07:00

Tunog Bangus Battle of the Bands

2009-03-26T01:27:00.000-07:00

Bangus Extreme Off-Road Challenge

2009-03-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

Bangusfest Chairperson and Vice-Mayor Belen Fernandez was concerned that I had posted the wrong picture of what an off-road vehicle competing in the Off-Road Challenge would look like, so this is it.

For those who've never seen buggies in action, this is your chance to see something totally unexpected. When we got the chance to see some racing gigs at Manukau City (in New Zealand), our initial expectation was boredom and plenty of mud (the tracks after all, were earthen, hilly terrain). But we were wrong- with their strong suspension and speed, buggies offer the most awesome display of control over terra firma and yes, over gravity as well.

Dagupan Singing B

2009-03-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

This is really clever! Who would have thought, right? And that bangus on stage, how cute!!!

Some have commented;

1. would we see singers in fish costumes?
2. would the singers sing fish songs (????)

Very funny, ha ha...

Bangusfest Extreme Off-Road Challenge

2009-03-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

The Bangusfest Extreme Off-Road Challenge is sponsored by Energizer, Rexona, Clear Shampoo and Colt-45.

Opening on April 18th 2009 at the CSI De Venecia extension, the competition will have off-road vehicles obviously, but of what type, I have yet no idea.

I hope it's this type- pictured here- the Aprilla Quad-Bike, which is on my wish-list of items labelled " Mangarap Ka"

2009-03-23T23:25:00.000-07:00

2009-03-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

Festivals of the North sponsors

2009-03-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

The Festivals of the North would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors:

Del Monte (DM Fit and Right, DM Corp); Fonterra (Anlene); Kraft (Kraft Cheez Whiz, Kraft Foods); Monde; Nestle (Maggi Magic Sarap); Peerless (Champion); P&G (Tide, Mr. Clean, Ariel); SMC-Ginebra (GSM Blue, Ginebra, Gran Matador); SMC-Purefoods (PF Tender juicy hotdog); Wyeth (Bonakid Pre-School, Promil Pre-School); Globe; and Wellmade (Speed Babad).

Bangus Festival Cookfest

2009-03-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

I love foreign fish like salmon, trout (oh, the flavor of it smoked or pickled) or the delicate flesh of the flounder fried in olive oil with garlic.

But nothing trumps the Bonuan Bangus.

It's fitting that the Bangus Festival Cookfest 2009 pays tribute to this versatile fish and other local ingredients in what has become one of the most anticipated events in the festival (the free tasting of course!)

The cookfest is generously sponsored by Safi (makers of Golden Fiesta Cooking Oil); Uniliver Foods (makers of Knorr); Jaka (makers of Guitar Matches); and SMC-CKAG (makers of Star Margarine and Magnolia Cheeze).

(Bangus belly pic-yumm!-from wyattblogspot.com)

Mayor Al Fernandez Jr. Bowling Cup

2009-03-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

A picture of pretty movie stars is, well, pretty. But the fact is, Mead Johnson Philippines, makers of the popular brand of children's milk Lactum is sponsoring the Mayor Al Fernandez Jr. Bowling Cup.

The bowling tourney opens on April 22.

Bangus Foodstrip

2009-03-18T23:49:00.000-07:00

Trust me when I say that just because I posted a pork-barbecue pic here, it's the only food item of interest that you'd find at the Bangus Foodstrip. I love barbecue with a passion that I'd be content just eating it and nothing else.

Fortunately for others, the popular foodstrip which opens on April 15 along the stretch of Galvan Street offers a virtual buffet of anything that catches your fancy- and that for once, there's something else besides the pigar-pigar to feast on.

Best Tip: wait until the sun goes down and make it al fresco (in comfort) as you dine on everything from native kakanin, halu-halo to delicacies from La Union and the Ilocos

The Bangus Foodstrip 2009 is made possible by the generous support of Coca-Cola (makers of Coke, Sprite and Royal) and San Miguel Beer.

Yep, I'd want a San Mig Light to go with my barbecue please!

Hataw Sayaw, Hataw Dagupan

2009-03-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

Everyone's favorite dance-face off competition Hataw Sayaw, Hataw Dagupan would not be possible without the following generous sponsors;

Proctor & Gamble (makers of Pantene, Rejoice, Head and Shoulders); and San Miguel Beer

Gilon-Gilon Ed Baley

2009-03-18T23:32:00.000-07:00

Gilon-Gilon ed Baley would not be possible without the following generous sponsors:

Abbott (maker of Ensure, Gainschool and Glucerna); Century (maker of your favorite Century Tuna); Colgate Palmolive (maker of Axion and Colgate); J&J (maker of Modess); Kimberly (maker of Huggies, Kleenex and Joy); Kraft (maker of Eden Cheese and Kraft Foods); P&G (maker of Tide, Mr. Clean and Ariel); Safi (maker of Golden Fiesta and Prito); Unilever (maker of Surf and Creamsilk); Globe; SMB Beer; and Emperador Brandy.

To all the sponsors, salamat ya balbaleg

Shout Out to all Ballers

2009-03-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

What is summer without its favorite games? The Dagupan Bangus Festival 2009 adds to its roster of activities the SK Inter-Barangay Basketball Challenge which will have its ball toss-up on April 18, 2009.

Councilor Carlo Fernandez heads the event.

Splash in the Sky

2009-03-17T00:41:00.000-07:00

The rumor (is it true Vice Mayor??) is that the bet for the most "bongga" event for this year's Bangus Festival is the little known Splash in the Sky Fireworks Display. If the rumors are true, the word little may be an understatement.

The word on the street is that the fireworks display will accompany either the festival theme song or the Dagupan City anthem- that's at least 4 to 5 minutes of continuous "paputok" as the song is played out.

Tip for better viewing: pick a spot where you can lie on your back instead of craning up your neck to watch the pyrotechnic extravaganza.

The display unfolds on April 30, Thursday and is generously sponsored by PEPSI-COLA.

Comments Welcome!

2009-03-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

To all those eagerly awaiting the opening of this year's Bangus Festival, feel free to express your comments and opinions about the festivities or better still, share with us through short essays or images, your memories and experiences about the festival.

Email all contributions to design@redbow.co.nz with Bangus Fest 09 on the subject head

Meeting RJ Jacinto

2009-03-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

I bet that for the younger generation, the name RJ Jacinto doesn't quite ring a bell. But if you believe in rock and roll, your belief wouldn't be complete without at least a passing introduction to one of the country's foremost pioneers of rock. Long before fashionable accolades and titles adorned celebrities, RJ has collected such titles as "Mr. Retro, " Mr. Rock n' Roll," and "The Dick Clark of the Philippines."

But don't expect a history lesson with some old fossil thinking he can still rock it with a full back-up band (the better to make salo pag hindi na naabot yung high notes!).

Truth be told, the man can still rock it- after all, haven't the Eraserheads officially retired??? (ha ha).

Watching RJ Jacinto perform affirms what most di-hard fans have long known- rock and roll is ageless...

Dagupenos will have the pleasure of RJ's company along with some of the hottest bands in the country when the Bangusan Street Party unfolds...

Gilon-Gilon Participants

2009-03-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

BONUAN BINLOC,

LASIP CHICO,

BOLOSAN AND JUDGE JOSE DE VENECIA MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (JJDVMNHS),

CARANGLAAN,

LASIP GRANDE AND POGO GRANDE,

MAYOMBO,

TAMBAC,

BACAYAO NORTE,

CARAEL,

LUCAO,

HERRERO-PEREZ,

BACAYAO SUR,

SALISAY AND MAMALINGLING,

BARANGAY I,

BARANGAY II AND III,

CARAEL,

PANTAL,

POBLACION OESTE,

TEBENG,

PUGARO,

MANGIN,

BONUAN BOQUIG,

BONUAN GUESET,

CALMAY,

MALUED,

TAPUAC,

POGO CHICO,

SALAPINGAO-LOMBOY,

UNIVERSITY OF PANGASINAN(UPANG),

DAGUPAN CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (DCNHS),

ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL SCHOOL/ BARANGAY IV,

DOMINICAN SCHOOL

Dagupan Bangus Cookfest

2009-03-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

Bangusan Street Party 2009

2009-03-10T21:02:00.001-07:00

Marian and Dingdong to grace Bangus Festival 2009

2009-03-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Are they real life lovers or not? Your guess is as good as ours.

Whatever the truth may be, catch a glimpse of one of the hottest if not more controversial loveteams on Philippine television when they grace the GMA Kapuso float on April 27, 2009.

Schedule of Events, updated

2009-03-09T00:18:00.000-07:00

The schedule of events of the Dagupan Bangus Festival 2009 has been updated- check the link!

Halo-Halo and Samalamig Festival

2009-03-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

Dagupan City’s staging of the Bangus Festival 2009 will feature another new event dubbed Halo-Halo and Samalamig Festival that will run for three days from April 23 to 25.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, bangus festival chairman for the second year in a row, said that the bangus fest committee has partnered with Alaska Milk for the staging of the event that aims to promote the livelihood of small entrepreneurs in the city.

It will be participated in by halo-halo and samalamig vendors both in the downtown area and the city’s 31 barangays.

Interested participants will join as a team with a minimum of 10 members.

They are advised to register early as only the first 15 teams will be accommodated to join the contest.

They will compete in making the most delicious and most unique halo-halo and samalamig preparations.

According to the vice mayor, the events committee will set up a food court at the senior citizen’s park with 15 halo-halo and samalamig booths.

Winners for the best halo-halo will receive P20, 000 for the first prize and P10,000 and P5,000 for the second and third place, while the winning samalamig concoction will take home P5, 000 (1^st prize), P3,000 (2^nd prize) and P2,000 (3^rd prize).

The competition will be based on the following criteria: taste of halo-halo and samalamig 50%, economical use of ingredients 20%, uniqueness 20% and creativity 10%.

The event will also feature fun games and raffle prizes like the roleta, sack race, tug of war, halo-halo eating contest, biggest fruit, oldest Alaska poster or label, oldest pictures of Alaska events, alaska novelty items, among others.

Another highlight of the event is the search for Ginang Alaska 2009. (LTC)

Updated Schedule of Events

2009-03-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

Here is an updated schedule of events for the Dagupan Bangus Festival 2009; click here!

New Events

2009-03-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

Change is good. Just as it makes perfect sense not to break the record again for the longest grill (I guess, you only have to prove yourself once), it's also quite sensible to juggle the formula a bit to make it more interesting. But more than the novelty, it's the practicality that is more important- we are after all, in a global recession. And while sobering economic times is no excuse for NOT holding a festival, the perspective should be about planning smarter.

A 20 million peso extravaganza can look half its price with half-baked planning and mismanagement just as something less can look twice what it actually cost with smart and judicious management.

New events lined up for this year's festival include:

1. A road-race at the new De Venecia highway on 4x4 vehicles

2. A photo exhibit by master photographer Raymund Sto. Domingo

3. A Halo-Halo Festival

4. Lingkod Kapamilya Kabuhayan

5. GMA Kapuso Cares (Outreach Program)

Details to follow!

Bangus Festival Schedule of Events

2009-03-04T16:46:00.000-08:00

For the updated schedule of events, please follow THIS LINK!

Bangus Festival 2009 Sponsors

2009-03-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

Supporters come in many forms and while we can argue that all are equal on the basis of support (which can also come in many forms as well), the financial help extended by the corporate and business community makes it all possible to begin with.

Times are tough, but if the point of economic recovery is shoring up the faith of consumers in products and services, the effort of strengthening this faith is in continued visibility; and what could be more visible than a high-profile event such as the Dagupan Bangus Festival?

For this year's staging of the bangus festival, we can collectively thank the generosity of the following sponsors:

Purefoods

Kraft (makers of Eden Cheese, Cheez Whiz, Tang and Oreo)

GSM Blue

Century Tuna

Proctor and Gamble

Kimberly Clark

Colgate-Palmolive

Modess

URC, Chippy

Green-Cross

Coca-Cola

Unilever (makers of Clear, Cream Silk, Knorr and Surf)

Abbott

Wyeth

Nestle

2009-03-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

From the PIA:

Fernandez, who also chaired the festivities last year, defended the transfer of the Bangusan street party to the new De Venecia Expressway extension in barangay Lucao. It used to be held at the kilometer-long city's main thoroughfare, A. B. Fernandez avenue for the past six years.

She said the Lucao-Pantal area is spacious with available parking spaces of about eight hectares and can accommodate several music bands without worries of stampede. She noted that with six to seven bands playing at the same time, it was very difficult for the spectators to move from one place to another as had been observed in the past bangus festivals.

She said that business will not be affected in the downtown area as feared by some sectors. With no closing of the main thoroughfare there, she said that business will go on. The main road had been closed during the street party in the past editions of the festiva (by Danny Sagun)

Read the entire article here;

Bangusan Street Party!

2009-03-02T23:36:00.000-08:00

2009-02-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

Everybody loves pigar-pigar

2009-02-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

I don't know why nobody has suggested a Pigar-Pigar Festival before but it's better late than never. If bangus is indelibly the iconic symbol of Dagupan City, pigar-pigar comes at a close second for sheer ubiquitousness. I've never really discovered how it started (if someone knows, email me!) although I know for a fact that-sadly- I believe I'm older, and that it should outlive me! Pigar-pigar isn't just a dish- it's a cultural thing- well, not as distinguished as bangus, or even gastronomically superior to bangus (some will obviously disagree), but it has attained a familiarity which makes the community want to say, "it's ours, and we're never getting rid of it."

And not even if a friend had once declared, "madali naman yang iluto sa bahay, bakit pupunta ka pa dito para kumain niyan??."

Would seem true at first (beef stir-fry right, with plenty of MSG ?), but not quite. There seems to be a fine art of seasoning the beef and of putting it into the pan, at the right temperature, in the right quantities and getting the ideal pigar-pigar which is not too overdone nor too soggy. And there's the matter of beef- sorry, but it's not from San Miguel's Monterey. Local butchered beef obviously has more flavor, more character.

And who wants to eat at home when you can go to Galvan and eat al fresco in the company of hundreds of people? Part of the lasting charm of pigar-pigar is that at 2 in the morning (god forbid that you're almost drunk as a skunk) you're part of this community that regardless of social standing, savors simple fare in simple settings.

And that I think perfectly sets the tone for this year's festival.

2009-02-27T18:32:00.001-08:00

Festival of the North connects 3 regions

2009-02-27T13:12:00.000-08:00

AT LEAST 20 towns and 10 cities have already confirmed their participation in the “Festivals of the North” street dancing competition, one of the major events of the Dagupan Bangus Festival scheduled on April 15 to May 1.

With this development, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman of the executive committee of this year's festival, announced that the competition has been divided in two categories, one for cities and another for municipalities.

More participants from Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Central Luzon are expected.

The “Festivals of the North" was first held in the 2008 Bangus Festival and proved to be a major attraction.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. approved the expanded “Festivals of the North” which will also offer bigger cash prizes. Prizes are P200,000 for first prize, P100,000 for second prize and P50,000 for third prize in each category.

Special prizes will also be given for the best costume, choreography and others categories.

Among those earliest to confirm their participation are the towns of Mapandan in Pangasinan, and Agoo in La Union, co-champions in last year's competition with performance depicting their "Pandan Festival” and "Dinengdeng Festival", respectively.

Baguio City, known for its Panagbenga Festival, and two delegations from Tarlac City have also confirmed participation.

Towns and cities participating in the “Festivals of the North” will be allowed to bring their own "One Town One Product" (OTOP) merchandise for sale in booths that will be provided for them.

Meanwhile, the 2009 Bangus Festival will open with another street dancing event, the "Gilon-gilon", to be participated in by street dancers from the 31 barangays of the city.

Gilon-gilon as a street dance, depicting the harvesting of bangus, was first choreographed and patented during the Golden Anniversary of Dagupan cityhood in 1995, which was also chaired by Vice Mayor Fernandez who was then a city councilor.

Other features of the festival include the cookfest among the city’s restaurant chefs, Bangus Rodeo, Tunog bangus, Food Strip, Great Dagupan Day Sale, Bangus Street Party.

For the first time this year, a Pigar-Pigar Festival and Halo-halo Tama Lamig will also be featured.

The Bangusan Street Party, where six to seven famous bands from Manila are expected to perform, will be held at the newly-opened Jose R. de Venecia Highway Expressway Extension to accommodate a bigger audience.—LM

Gallery

2009-02-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

(Top Pic)
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez (4th from left) meets with the public order and safety office, Dagupan PNP, city engineer, social welfare and development office, city health office and the waste management division to ensure peace and order and safety of both Dagupeños and local and foreign tourists who will participate in the 2009 celebration of the Bangus Festival. The Vice Mayor was again designated by the City Mayor as chairman of the festivity.
(2nd pic, bottom)
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman of the Bangus festival for the second year in a row, conducts consultation meeting with the pigar-pigar owners along Galvan Street to discuss their participation in the forthcoming Pigar-Pigar Festival, one of the events lined up for the 2009 Bangus Festival which aims to help small business owners and a strategy to promote the pigar-pigar local delicacy in Dagupan City

Bangus Fest ‘09 all set for ‘pigar-pigar’

2009-02-27T12:45:00.001-08:00

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, this year’s chairman of the 2009 Bangus Festival for the second year in a row, on February 25 met with the pigar-pigar owners to finalize preparations for the upcoming Pigar-Pigar Festival slated on April 17.

The vice mayor said the event included in the calendar of activities of the Bangus Fest aims to help small business owners and a strategy to promote the pigar-pigar local delicacy in Dagupan City.

Pigar-pigar is a unique delicacy in Dagupan made of thinly sliced beef or carabeef seasoned primarily with salt and onions and cooked deep fry. It is usually sold at night time along the entire stretch of Galvan Street.

The culinary competition is an opportunity for owners to showcase their creativity and expertise in cooking pigar-pigar based on five different categories: Best Stall Design, Best Chopper, Best Mixer; Best Mixture and Most Orderly.

Winner of the Best Stall Design shall receive P10, 000 cash prize, while winners of the remaining four categories shall earn P1, 000 each.

Two stages will be installed in the area where famous bands will be performing and celebrity comedians will provide entertainment for festival goers.

The event will also feature a sing and dance contest for pigar-pigar servers and waiters.

As to event sponsorship, the festival chairman said there have been numerous sponsorships expected from leading cooking product companies who will provide all cooking tools and ingredients.

Contest guidelines will be prepared by the city nutrition office. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

Meeting the Press

2009-02-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez invites members of the local media for a meeting to seek for their support in the forthcoming celebration of the 2009 edition of the Bangus Festival. Also in photo is Councilor Dada Reyna.

Combining fun and livelihood opportunities

2009-02-24T22:09:00.000-08:00

Merriment and livelihood opportunities are combined as Dagupeños and thousands of revelers for the Bangus Festival 2009 flock anew to Dagupan City for this summer spectacle.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who is again designated executive committee chair of this biggest crowd-drawer event in the province, told Pangasinan newsmen during the Philippine Information Agency-Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Kapihan Forum, that due to the economic crisis, she and Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. prorititized to give livelihood support to their constituents and people from other areas.

The vice mayor said they are bringing back the Great Dagupan Sale which will benefit not only the business sector but most especially the consumers who will avail themselves of big discounts on items sold in various participating establishments.

She added that they have also invited Dagupan businessmen who set up their grills last year in downtown area to join them anew and move this time to the De Venecia Highway Extension (formerly known as the Pantal-Dawel-Lucao Diversion Road) for a more spacious entertainment area for the Bangusan Street Party.

Vice Mayor Fernandez said the committee is inviting 20 or more restaurant operators to set up their food stalls for the Bangusan Street Party.

As Dagupan is known not only as the haven of delicious bangus but also as the center of pigar-pigar (lean beef with liver sautéed with onion rings) which is a bestseller among beer drinkers as “pulutan” or appetizer, the committee is coming up with a Pigar-pigar Festival as requested by street restaurant owners.

Also, to further promote business of small street entrepreneurs, there will be a Halo-halo/Sa Malamig Festival to quench the thirst of visitors and spectators alike due to the summer heat.

The vice mayor added that the overwhelming success of carenderia owners will come alive again as they set up their stalls for the foodstrip to promote ordinary and sanitary food among the masses in Galvan Street.

The hunt for very cheap yet quality clothes and home kitchen wares, decorations, fashion jewelry among others continues with the famous Baratillo.

“If you notice, this year, we are vigorous in helping our businessmen, whether big or small because we want to improve the economy of Dagupan and hopefully this will help not only our local economy but the entire province will be complemented,” Vice Mayor Fernandez said. (Eva C. Visperas)

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

2009-02-20T01:59:00.000-08:00

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

Bangus fest 2009 preparations underway

2009-02-20T01:54:00.000-08:00

With less than two months away, preparations are underway for this year’s celebration of Dagupan Bangus Festival 2009.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman of the festival for the second year in a row, said the celebration will kick off on April 15 and will wind up on May 1 with daily activities and happenings.

The Vice Mayor appealed for public and private support even as she encouraged all Dagupeños to invite their relatives and friends abroad or from other parts of the country to participate in the festival, especially during the main events - Festivals of the North; Gilon! Gilon! Ed Baley street dancing competitions; and Bangusan Street Party.

During the festivals of the north, spectators will get the rare chance to see the battle of the best festivals of Pangasinan, Ilocos, Tarlac, Pampanga and Cordillera, all in one event.

“We in the city government will work hard to equal if not surpass last year’s success. We’ll try to set an example in the province on what a real festival should be,” she said.

In an interview with the media after the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on February 16, Fernandez bared that the much-awaited “Festivals of the North” street dancing competition will be giving away bigger cash prizes for the winning entries in each category – cities and municipalities.

First, second and third placers will receive P200,000, P100,000 and P50,000, respectively.

As early as February, the roster of entries had reached the maximum number set by the organizers – solid proof of how keenly anticipated the festival is. From only 17 participants last year, 9 cities and 26 municipalities have already confirmed their participation in this year’s competition.

“We will get the best and winning street dancers from all festivals in the region to perform in Dagupan City this year, so don’t miss this rare opportunity,” she quipped.

Another highlight of the festivity is the grandest street party called Bangusan Street Party that will feature famous celebrities and rock bands in the country today. A simultaneous display of colorful fireworks will dazzle the crowd in the midst of the party.

The Vice Mayor noted that the members of the events committee decided to transfer the venue of the party to De Venecia Extension Highway to accommodate a larger audience and to avoid stampede incidents.

As to financial support, Fernandez said there have been numerous sponsorships expected from big businesses and giant TV networks.

She added that the earnings from the festival shall be earmarked for civic and charity projects of the city government. (Leziel T. Cayabyab

Gilon! Gilon is back!

2009-02-20T01:49:00.000-08:00

The 2009 Bangus Festival kicks off with wild cheers from crowd-drawing street dancers clad in colorful and striking attires to depict bangus harvesting ritual through the Gilon!Gilon! street dancing contest on April 15.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman of the 2009 Bangus Festival said young street dancers from 31 barangays will once again compete against each other to show which contingent reigns supreme through their well-choreographed dances as they sway in rhythmic movements how bangus is harvested in ponds and pens.

The best performers will be judged based on their dance steps, formation, ideas presented, grace and skills, creativity of their costume design and the energy level while performing, audience impact, among others.

Big cash prizes await lucky performers.

“We’re bringing back Gilon!Gilon! for our opening,” the vice mayor said.

She said this will also showcase various barangays as the performers are expected to showcase not only their dancing prowess and skills but also what their barangay can offer.

Gilon is a Pangasinan word for fish harvest.

Vice Mayor Fernandez said as soon as she was officially appointed anew by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., she immediately buckled down to work and met with several departments, sectors and sponsors to ensure this year’s festival success.

She said they have already lined up several events for this summer spectacle which remains as the biggest crowd drawer in Pangasinan.—Eva C. Visperas

head banging at the De Venecia highway

2009-02-16T02:29:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the biggest news for this year's Dagupan Bangus Festival 09 celebrations is literally a much bigger space for the festival's musical acts. Last year was memorable partly because the crowd that gathered for the different stages defied the laws of physics; there was just enough room to scream and sing it out with Bamboo.

This year might see the stages moved to De Venecia Highway and reduced to three, the logic being that less (but not the star wattage of course) can accomodate more with the concerns being safety and comfort.

Festival chairperson Belen Fernandez should soon be making a more detailed announcement should this plan push through- but we're jumping the gun to say that it's an excellent idea.

Bangus Festival 2009 preparations in full swing

2009-02-16T02:15:00.001-08:00

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez has started preparing for the staging of the mother of all festivals in Pangasinan, the Dagupan Bangus Festival.

It was learned that the vice mayor was again designated by Mayor Al Fernandez as chairperson of the festivity.

“My deepest appreciation for giving me your valued trust and it is with great sense of pride and honor to chair this year’s Bangus Festival for the second time around,” Fernandez said.

In connection with the preparations of the festival celebration, the festival chairperson said she started meeting with the chairpersons of various events committee, department heads, barangay captains and some city hall officials immediately after her appointment on January 26.

On the third week of February, the vice mayor is bound for Manila to meet with the different festival sponsors.

Members of the organizing committee include: liga ng mga barangay,the city engineer’s office, nutrition office, city health office, public order and safety office, Dagupan City Police Station, waste management division, Department of Education, PANDA and the Pangasinan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Aside from promoting Dagupan as a prime tourist destination in Northern Luzon, the festival also aims to further boost business opportunities in the city and for the Dagupan bangus (milkfish) to be marketed to the rest of the country.

The vice mayor said that she hopes to equal if not surpass last year’s success.

The festival will run for two weeks starting April 15 up to May 1. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

A Message from the Hermana Mayor

2009-02-16T02:07:00.000-08:00

Why celebrate in a time of global crisis? The answer is simple- because it gives us hope...