Pangasinan's Pista'y Dayat grandest holiday ever

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 5 (PNA) -- The Pista'y Dayat celebration in the province to be held from April 25 to May 3, promises to be spectacular, fun-filled and the grandest holiday ever.

With heavy preparations now going on, the sea festival is expected to draw thousands of spectators who shall witness must-see events of the grandest festivity in Pangasinan.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. said this year's festivities will showcase his main advocacies -- environment and tourism -- in order to raise the level of awareness among Pangasinenses on the need to save, rehabilitate and promote the eco-tourism industry of the province.

With its theme, “Matuwan Pasimbalo: Gayaga na Luyag Tayo,” the sea festival is expected to serve as a showroom of the various accomplishments of the province notably on environment and tourism.

This also serves as a thanksgiving and unifying event among Pangasinenses in their march to prosperity and progress in order to realize the dawning of the Golden Era in Pangasinan.

The Pista'y Dayat 2009 will have its soft opening on April 17 featuring two exciting events to be sponsored by the San Miguel Brewery Inc. like the Dance Revolution and the Battole of the Band.

It will also feature a fluvial parade of colorful and aesthetically designed bancas which will sail along the Limahong Channel, and the conduct of On-the-Spot Essay and Painting competition.

The festival’s formal opening dubbed “Ilog Ko: Bilayen Ko, Aroen Ko,” will be held on April 25, with the launching of the ‘Pakar Awards’ or the search for the cleanest river and riverbanks.

Pangasinan tourism will take center stage with the holding of a Tourism and Trade Expo meant to exalt all native products thru a showcase, exhibit and sale of prime tourist destinations and other best prime and local produce of different towns and cities.

The 'Banda Parada' on April 26 is another activity worth watching as this will be participated in by multi-awarded Drum and Lyre and Drum and Bugle Corps for the delight and enjoyment of the viewing public.

Sports and native games will be offered on April 27 with “Pagalaw na Luyag” via native games like 'palosebo', 'culliot', coconut smashing, arm wrestling and arnis and beach volleyball, both for men and women.

Another highlight of the festival is the Grand Orchestra and Ballroom Dancing Showdown, a 12-hour non-stop music and dance entertainment that will feature the best orchestras of Pangasinan.

Made bigger this year, this electrifying showdown is expected to position the province as the Fiesta Orchestra Capital in the world and the Ballroom Dancing Capital of the country.

Younger generation will have a chance to enjoy the cozy ambiance of the Lingayen beach thru the ‘Doypuay Kalangweran’ (Youth Camp) slated from April 28 to 30 while beautiful maidens vying for the most-coveted title of 'Limgas na Pangasinan' will have a chance to show their skills and crafts via the Talent Competition on the night of the 28th.

The fairest of these beauties will be crowned on May 1.

Labi na Ligliwa Cultural Show is a night of talent and old traditions rolled into one that will display the singing prowess of talented amateur singers back-to-back with a lifestyle-drawn theatrical venue via zarzuela.

Skydiving, street dancing and employees night is a fun-filled respite to be featured on April 29.

The main day, May 1, will be highlighted with a thanksgiving mass and the awarding ceremony for the cleanest coastal municipality/city called Tambuyong Awards which is the banner program for this year’s sea festival.

The adrenaline of the viewing public will rise high with the conduct of the Lingayen Beach Woodstock featuring the finalists of the Battle of the Band and the Banda ni ATE as main performers.

The Coronation Night will cap the weeklong activities.

The celebration will be capped with the holding of different activities on May 2 at the Lingayen Beachfront by corporate sponsors.

Simultaneously, the Governor’s Cup shoot fest kicks off on May 3, while the Trade Fair will have its last day sale. (PNA)

Developing Pangasinan as a tourist destination

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is forecasting robust growth for travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region, with tourism revenues to top US$4.6 trillion and visitor arrivals to reach close to 500 million by the end of 2010. The Philippine Department of Tourism has just launched Shopfeast Festival to capture some of these tourist.

This is a wonderful idea. I still remember our time in the Pacific region and our motivation in traveling to a lot of the areas we visited was due to “shopping”. During Hong Kong’s days of cheap imitation brand name we went to the British haven for watches and tailor made clothes, when Japan has the most advanced TVs, stereos of touch controls, while the US still had rotary dials we visited Tokyo, when Korean shoes and bags were only 5 dollars each we went to Seoul.

Now during our October 2007 visit to the Philippines after 12 years we were surprised that now it is the place to shop. We loaded up for MP4 players, cell phones, belts, bags, shoes, and traditional handicrafts, and even the bookseller "Negosyo" and "Soldiers Pultan".

Sec Durano has surely gone to first base. I hope he could make it to home base. Pangasinan’s problem is travel time since TIME is most valuable to a tourist.. When we travel on our two lane highways, our roads are heavily congested due to heavy traffic. Because there is no consideration for free flow of traffic when planning, just like the building of SM mall in Carmen adjacent to the highway, most tourists lose precious time they could not afford. It takes almost a day to reach Lingayen, Alaminos, Dagupan or Manaoag instead of the four hour trips I remember in the 80’s.

This problem is not easily solved with airports without comprehensive plans. The structure (airport) should be planned with the airlines, inputting target market analysis, and a fully integrated plan of the LGU and national private and public stakeholders. Let them brainstorm on everything that could bring in the visitors. Look at what we have to offer like skilled medical personnel with cheap labor rates. We could promote medical tourism here. Most of our FilAms talk about their Belo treatment here in the Philippines, while seniors talk of returning home to see if a medical facilities are available for their long term care. A program for business investment for retirees with tax privileges given by the government minus the corrupt laden red tape that keeps them away, will be good. Our local entrepreneurs’, in partnership with the returning retirees, can develop first world facilities where they could live. Ideas are endless if we only take everyone’s input without the baggage of ‘me first’.

Recall the single projects like McAdore, Alimango Restaurant, Tondaligan, San Fabian resorts, Bolinao parks. These were good ideas but could not stand alone.