TWENTY towns and 10 cities in Region 1, Cordillera and Central Luzon have already signified their intention to join the “Festivals of the North”, a featured event in the 2009 Dagupan Bangus Festival” slated here from April 15 to May 1 this year.
Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who chairs the executive committee of this year’s festival anew, said they expect a total of up to 40 towns and cities to join the “Festival of the North”, a unique avenue where they can showcase their talents, culture and products through their colorful dance numbers.
Since after being named again by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. as chair of this year’s festival last January 26, the vice mayor has held meetings with various sectors, including city and barangay officials to ask for their help to ensure the success of this year’s bangus festival.
The Vice Mayor said streets dancers in the “Festival of the North” will be divided into two categories, one for cities and another for municipalities.
Interest in “Festivals of the North” continues as organizers have built u the prize for winners in each category at P200,000 for first prize, P100,000 for second prize and P50,000 for third prize, aside from special prizes for best in costume and best in choreography.
Among these earliest to signify their intention to participate are Mapandan, Pangasinan, and Agoo, La Union, co-championships in last year’s “Festivals of the North” with their rendition of winning street dancing 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.
Fernandez said the “Festivals of the North” will return this year due to insistent public demand urging the activity that it made a permanent fixture in the yearly “Bangus Festival”.
She said those participating in the “Festivals of the North” are allowed to bring in their own ‘One-Town, One Product’ to sell in their respective booths.
Other activities include “Gilon-gilon” dancing competition depicting the primitive and effective way of harvesting bangus, “bangus rodeo”, 101 ways to cook bangus, “tunog bangus”, food trip, Great Dagupan Day Sale, Bangus Street Party where six to seven famous Manila bands are coming, Battle of the Bands, singing competition and others. (PNA)
