Bigger and Better

The Dagupan City government has revved up the annual celebration of Bangus Festival this summer as it put together big and new events to attract more visiors as well as perk up business here which is known as the Bangus Capital.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chairman of this year's celebration, told local newsmen that the events had been finalized which are aimed to provide entertainment and showcase the city as prime business and tourist destination as well.

It was through the Bangus Festival that placed this city in the map of Guinness Book of World Records when it captured the title for the longest barbeque using its famous product, bangus (milkfish) few years ago.

Fernandez said the festival opens on April 16 with a big bang through the Gilon Gilon ed Baley street dancing competition depicting bangus harvest with special guest artists from a top television network.

The famous street dancing competition will have two versions, one for local participants with about 25 groups participating from different schools and barangays on April 16 and the other one on April 26 with the Festivals of the North Street Dancing Competition where the best from various towns and cities will give their best dancing feet forward in their colorful uniforms.

Dr. Vicki Belo, a renowned cosmetic surgeon in the Philippines , will also grace the Bangus Festival 2008 through a beauty talk on April 16 at 3:00 p.m. at the CSI Atrium, Lucao District, Dagupan City. Her significant other, Dr. Hayden Kho, who is also making waves in his own field and is a regular television guest, will host the festival queen coronation night on April 16.

Fernandez said this year is also the first time that two giant television networks will have their own separate live shows here, GMA 7's SOP on April 20 and ABS-CBN's ASAP on April 27.

Also, this will be the first time that seven national popular big bands like Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikaze, Black Jack, Spongecola among others will perform in one night of big show in seven stages at A.B. Fernandez Avenue for the Bangusan Street Party on April 30.

It will be on this same day that the famous bangus grill will be held but nolonger to bid for the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest grill as it had already captured once the crown. It will be a mere merriment where people will grill bangus to be partaken by our vistors, she said.

Dagupan businessmen will also have the chance to showcase their wares with big discounts and giveaways to their patrons in the citywide Great Dagupan Day Sale from

April 16-30, Fernandez said.

More exciting events are scheduled daily like dance and singing competitions, coronation of the 2008 Dagupan Bangus Festival Queen, battle of the bands, sports events like billiards challenge, cycling classic, bowling and badminton cups, dogshow/pitbull competition, taekwondo open, dragon boat, bangus rodeo, body fest, cookfest, kundiman contest, boxing, mud wrestling, parasailing, sand castle making contest, beer drinking, beach volleyball, visual arts festival, among others.

Also, there will be two separate cookfests, one on April 20 where cooking aficionados including restaurateurs will come up with new recipes using bangus and the other, on April 25 with parents and child tandem.

"We promise to give our visitors and guests a festival worth remembering and we hope to maintain Dagupan's image as the best producer of the tastiest bangus in the whole world through this festival," Fernandez said.

The festival will end on May 4 with a badminton and golf tournament