Bangus Fest, Pista'y Dayat kick off Monday

Author: Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre
Column: Pangasinan, Local News

DAGUPAN CITY -- Pangasinenses and visitors will witness Monday the grandest entertainment with the holding of two huge events: the Bangus Festival here and the Pista'y Dayat celebration in Lingayen.

Thirty-four towns and cities will be showcased in Dagupan City's Festivals of the North, the biggest street dancing competition in north-central Luzon.

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Competing in the municipal category are the towns of Balungao, Bayambang, Binmaley, Calasiao, Infanta, Manaoag, Pozzorubio, Sta. Maria, San Nicolas, Santo Tomas, Umingan, Urbiztondo, Villasis, Malasique, all in Pangasinan; Agoo, Bauang, Naguillian, and Sto. Tomas towns of La Union; Paoay, Pinili, Pagudpud, and San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte), Candaba and Mabalacat (Pampanga), Aliaga (Nueva Ecija), and Masinloc (Zambales).

In the city category, the participants are the cities of Dagupan (to be represented by Barangay Lucao who won in the Gilon! Gilon ed Baley street dancing competition), Alaminos and San Carlos (Pangasinan), Angeles (Pampanga), San Fernando (La Union), Laoag (Ilocos Norte), and Santiago (Isabela).

They will have a final showdown in the ritual dance that will be held at the city plaza.

GMA Channel 7 actress Marian Rivera will render a special dance number while his screen partner Dingdong Dantes will sing.

Guest performers are the Dinagyang Festival street dancers (Iloilo) and Tribu Pandan of Mapandan, Pangasinan.

Over-all champion in the two categories will each receive P200,000. Runners-up will receive P100,000 (first), P75,000 (second), and P30,000 (third), respectively.

The group who will be adjudged Best in Costume will bring home P20,000.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, Bangus Festival chairman, said the two giant television networks, ABS-CBN Channel 2 and GMA 7 will add color and excitement to the Festivals of the North as they will bring in some of their contract stars who will ride at their respective floats.

Meanwhile, 10 well-known local orchestras will perform simultaneously at the Lingayen beach front.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. said the Grand Orchestra and Ballroom Dancing Showdown will have a comeback after its successful debut last year.

This year's event is dubbed "Sangkabalegan ya Suwayan tan Sayawan." The party will start at 5 p.m. Monday.

Scheduled to perform are Joe Caranto and His Orchestra; Esting Caranto Orchestra; Harmony Orchestra and Rudy Mac Orchestra, all of Basista town (dubbed as orchestra capital of Pangasinan); Rod Palaganas Orchestra of Calasiao; Lina Abuan and her Orchestra of Villasis; Santiago Brothers of Urdaneta City; Jiam of Lingayen; E.C. Jammers of Sison; and Sil Urbano Orchestra of Binmaley.

The 10 orchestras will have three grand performances (they will simultaneous play at the start, mid and end of the show). In between, they will perform one after the other.

Source: Sunstar Daily