The culmination of the month-long Dagupan City Bangus Festival is the Kalutan ed Dagupan last April 30, 2006. It is dubbed as "Bangus Sa Lansangan", a reunion of sorts of the more than a kilometer long Guinness record for the Longest Grill along A.B. Fernandez Avenue. Though this year’s "Kalutan ed Dagupan was not staged to beat the existing record held by the city, the revelry and sumptuous grilled bangus continued to wow the crowd.

The event started with the lighting of the grills but this time they did it by stations. Then came the street dancers. The local group simulated the Gilon! Gilon! (harvesting of bangus) in a spectacular dance repertoire. Guest dancers from the Dinagyang and Ati-Atihan Festival also came and entertained the spectators who were left in awe and amusement. The day (until the wee hours of the morning) was capped by concerts in 8 stages along the avenue. Performers included Brownman Revival, Francis M, Itchyworms, Hale, local bands and other performers I could not remember.

I only had my old Nokia 3660 with me so the pictures that I took were not good. The digital camera that I’m expecting to have will arrive on the 15^th of May. I hope it would be a good one.

I also hope and fervently wish that the just concluded festivities will translate into present and future actual revenues for the city that is the proud home of the "World’s Tastiest Milkfish." (and for not the politicians with gargantuan tarpaulins- Oh it’s an election year on 2007!)

Dagupan Bangus Festival 2006: Updated Schedule

As of April 27, 2006

April 1-30-May 1-2, 2006

Whole Day

TRADE FAIR

Jovellanos St.

April 25 - May 8

TRADE, LIVELIHOOD, TOURISM, EDUCATION, LIVELIHOOD, TOURISM, EDUCATION, REAL ESTATE AND EMPLOYMENT SHOW/ EXPO

Malimgas Market

April 27 - Thursday

Whole Day

GLOBE DAY - CONCERT

City Plaza

8:00AM

FINALS & AWARDING : BANGUS AMAZING RACE

City Plaza

3:00PM

OPENING OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL

City Plaza

7:00PM

BANGUS FEST KING AND QUEEN FINALS

In front of Dagupan City Museum

DAGUPAN'S BEST

Malimgas Market

April 28 - Friday

Whole Day

SMART DAY - CONCERT

City Plaza

8:00AM

BANGUS RODEO featuring LUMBAY BETEL

Malimgas Market

3:00PM

CHAMPIONSHIP: BATTLE OF THE 3RD KIND

In front of Dagupan City Museum

7:00PM

THE BIG HIPHOP BOUNCE RAVE PARTY

Perez Blvd.

7:00PM

CONCERT AT MALIMGAS MARKET

Malimgas Market

April 29 - Saturday

8:00AM

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

City Plaza

3:00PM

GILON! GILON! STREET DANCING/

BANGUS ED KAROSA/

STAR FM-TRIBU BOMBO-STAGE PERFORMER

City Wide

7:00PM

SINGING CONTEST

Astrodome

9:00AM

MEDICAL OUTREACH

Astrodome

April 30 - Sunday

8:00AM

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

City Plaza

4:30PM

KALUTAN ED DAGUPAN-"BANGUS SA LANSANGAN"

Café Du Marc-Amado

May 1 - Monday

7:00AM

FLUVIAL PARADE

Pantal - Tondaligan Beach

9:00AM

PISASALAMAT

Mayor's Shed Tondaligan Beach

9:00AM

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Tondaligan Beach

10:00AM

PALARO SA DAGAT

Tondaligan Beach

SAND SCULPTOR PARK COMPETITION

Tondaligan Beach

BANGUS IN THE SKY

Tondaligan Beach

7:00PM

ROCK THE BEACH CONCERT

Amphi Theater

This Holy Week, are you a "vacational" or a devotional Catholic Christian?

Whether you choose resorts or churches, it’s your free will! The Lenten Season is time for family as well as reflection.

Me? Meditation, seafoods delight, books and DVDs at home. Or probably a few laps in San Fabian Beach on Easter Sunday. As long as I am with my family, everything is utopia. It’s the best way to spend my Holy Week.

DVDs and Books? In time for Lenten reflection, try these out: