Dagupan City’s preparation in staging the 2006 Dagupan City fiesta is in full swing as the calendar of activities that are worth the attention and visit not only from local guests but international tourists as well are already lined up for this year’s celebration.

 According to Coun. Librada “Dada” Reyna, 2006 fiesta hermana mayor, this year’s celebration will not only focus on the major events done each year but will also highlight worthwhile activities for Dagupeño children and their families since the fiesta coincides with the Christmas season.

 Reyna bared that this year’s theme “Celebrate Life” will feature various events ranging from social, educational, economic, cultural, sports and religious activities.

 She said that this year’s celebration promises to be a globally spectacular event through a series of activities that include the trade expo, family carnival, singing contest, dance festival, photo contest, sportsfest, beauty pageant, garden show, car show, street party, acrobatic show, dog show, cheerdance competition, fluvial parade, street parade, lantern and costume parade, live bands, cultural entertainments, homecomings, fireworks display, among others.

 ”We want to let our guests, especially Dagupeños, know that aside from witnessing the traditional events, they will also experience new and exciting activities,” Reyna pointed out.

 In connection with the preparation of the fiesta celebration, the hermana mayor said she started meeting with the chairpersons of various events committee in as early as June 28.

 ”We will not be able to stage all these activities without the support of the community and the private sector,” she stressed.

 The month-long celebration of the city fiesta is slated on December 1 to 30. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

The sister city relationship between Dagupan City and Iwata, Japan ushered in a new phase of relations after Iwata City officials visited Mayor Benjamin Lim anew on September 13 to discuss the possibility of economic, cultural and educational exchanges.

 ”They came to Dagupan not only to renew ties but to discuss the possibility of exchanges between businessmen, Rotary clubs and student exchanges,” said Mayor Lim.

 Lim noted that the sister city relationship between Dagupan and Iwata almost disappeared after the Marcos regime.

He further added that the bilateral relations entered in a new era after the city government of Iwata invited Mayor Lim along with five high school students to attend the celebration of their 30th anniversary of sisterhood ties on July 27 to 30 this year.

It was learned that Lim invited the presidents and past presidents of various Rotary Clubs based in the city to join the discussion that is expected to include their involvement in the establishment of a business partnership between the two cities.

The bilateral talks dwelled on the interest of both cities to establish a study exchange program for high school students.

 Both cities agreed to study thoroughly the planned educational exchange program before deciding on its eventual approval.

 Lim said that once approved, the qualified high school Dagupeño students will be sent to Iwata during their school vacation period from April to May.

“Just like the Milpitas study exchange program, this is another venue for the Dagupeño students to observe the academic environment and educational system of Japan as well as experience the culture of Japanese students,” Lim stressed.

 The Japanese officials informed Lim that they have already visited Dagupan City five years ago. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

A critically endangered hawksbill turtle rescued by a fisherman from barangay Pugaro is surrendered to the city agriculture office on July 10 and is set for release in the open sea of the Lingayen Gulf by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 According to Emma Molina, city agriculturist, the turtle is supposed to be released on Tuesday (July 11) but was delayed due to a bad weather condition spawned by typhoon “Florita.”

 Molina said that the about 4-year-old turtle, locally known as pawikan, is considered priceless as it is listed among the critically endangered marine species and believed to be on the verge of extinction.

 Based on the official measurement of CENRO employees, the turtle is 15 inches long and 13 inches wide.

 City administrator Raffy Baraan and Marlyn Banda, community environment and natural resources (CENRO) chief of protected area and wildlife section, attached a corresponding metal tag in its flippers for reference purposes to its would-be captors.

 Baraan said that the city government will give a special citation award to the fisherman who saved the endangered turtle identified as Nonong Narvasa.

 ”The incident shows that the fisherfolks in the city really care about our marine resources,” Baraan said.

According to Molina, the hunting and killing of marine turtles as well as disposing their meat or any of their by-products is punishable by law pursuant to Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act or R.A. 9147.

 She added that the national law for the protection of sea turtles imposes imprisonment and penalty to those found guilty of catching, selling and slaughtering the endangered aquatic creatures.

 Some of the listed endangered turtles include the green turtle, loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle and olive ridley turtle. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz challenged all public servants to uphold at all times the value of integrity in order to achieve good governance and genuine reforms in the government during the observance of the 59th Agew na Dagupan on June 20 at the city plaza.

 ”If we want to become more progressive, economically viable and prosperous, then a public servant must nurture the value of integrity,” Archbishop Cruz, guest speaker at the commemorative program, said.

 In his speech, Cruz stressed that every government employee must be true, honest and dedicated to be worthy of the people’s trust and respect.

 The archbishop cited Dagupan City as an example of a local government unit that practices integrity in its governance.

 According to Cruz, he witnessed the transformation of the city from a devastated and seemingly hopeless city after the 1990 killer earthquake, into a progressive and well-developed city that it is today.

 ”Sixteen years ago, Dagupan City was wrecked but it has managed to become progressive and be back on its feet because of the integrity of the officials who have served this city,” he added.

 However, he pointed out that the ill notions about our country regarding corruption and poverty are brought by greedy and self-serving public servants.

 ”Sa dulo ng lahat ng kasamaang nangyayari sa ating bansa ay ang mga taong walang alam kundi magnakaw at baluktot ang paglilingkod,” Cruz said.

 He ended his speech by encouraging the youth to practice integrity early in their youth. Leziel T. Cayabyab

Mayor Benjamin Lim is set to fly to Vancouver, Canada on June 19 and stay there until 23 as one of the representatives of the Philippine delegation who will attend the third session of the World Urban Forum III (WUFIII) that will be hosted by the government of Canada.

 The participation of Lim in the said international event will be sponsored by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) that includes all traveling expenses in airfare and accommodation.

 The WUFIII is a biennial gathering that is attended by a wide range of partners from non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, urban professionals, academics, local authorities and national and international associations of local governments.

 For this year, WUFIII is centered on the theme, ‘Our Future: Sustainable Cities – Turning Ideas into Action.

 Such participation will enable Lim to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies and policies.

 ”This will give Dagupan City an opportunity to share with other countries on how to minimize poverty, improve urban poor’s access to basic facilities such as shelter, clean water and sanitation and achieve environment-friendly, sustainable urban growth and development,” said Lim.

 During his five-day visit, Lim will actively participate in the following activities: Municipal Global Village Opening and Exposition, Asia Partners meeting, public engagement & dialogue, plenary sessions, visit to Canada pavilion, forum on Integrating Global Concerns into Urban Management in Asia, local government sessions, networking session on gender mainstreaming and local governance and urban development policies and programs, meeting with the mayor of Vancouver and Greater Vancouver Regional District and Global Advisory Board Meeting with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Asia Partners.

 The fourth session will be held in Nanjing, China in 2008. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

The city government’s Oplan Zero Drowning implemented along the beach of Bonuan Tondaligan Park during the recent observance of the Holy Week season and Pista’y Dayat has been fully achieved after no single drowning victim was reported.

“No untoward incidences happened during the influx of bid crowds of people that came to the beach,” said Dino Zabala, Tondaligan Park Administrator.

According to Zabala, the success of the anti-drowning operation was achieved through the tight watch conducted by the four professional Red Cross certified lifeguards who were stationed at their respective high towers on look out at the swimming public from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm equipped with binoculars, megaphones, ring buoys and whistles.

The professional lifeguards were augmented by lifesaver organizations in Tondaligan beach composed mainly of 50 volunteers who helped monitor and ensure the safety of the swimming public.

He added that from April 10 up to the present, no drowning incident was reported except for six persons who were almost drowned, but were immediately rescued by lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers on the look out within their areas of responsibility.

Among those that almost drowned but saved were: Rodel Mendoza, 20 years old from Bonuan Boquig (April 15); Alfie Angelo, 11 years old; Ann Gayo, 12 years old and Jillian Villanueva, all residents of Benguet (April 17); Randy Melchor 11 years old from Nueva Ecija (May 7) and Arthur Martin, 62 years old from Brgy. Malued.

The Tondaligan Park Administration also served as an assistance center for lost beach-wandering kids who were immediately returned to their respective parents. (Leziel T. Cayabyab)

Dagupan City is all set in staging the world renowned “Kalutan ed Dagupan,” the country’s only Guinness World Record holder for longest barbecue, on April 30, 5:30 p.m. at the city’s main thoroughfare. Half a million people are expected again to take part in this culminating activity of the Bangus Festival. Twelve concert stages will be set up to accomodate a host of celebrities and popular bands to perform in the entire stretch of the barbecue party.

According to Coun. Nick Aquino, Bangus Festival 2006 chairman, the kalutan is an ultimate party where you can watch various well known performers in one stretch while you barbecue the tastiest milkfish in the world.

Some of the guest celebrities to perform include Francis M., Masculados, Blakdyak, Imago band and some Pinoy Big Brother housemates and other celebrity performers courtesy of the festival’s sponsors. To rev up the Kalutan party, the grand champion of the Dinagyan Festival Ati-Atihan contest, accompanied by the top three winners of the Gilon! Gilon! street dancing will strut their winning steps along the streets.

As early as three days before the event, the organizers, led by event chairman Alex Siapno, will start setting up the makeshift stages along the downtown area and other final preparations.

“This year’s kalutan focuses more on having a great fun by enjoying varied music and feasting on a huge buffet of succulent Dagupan bangus. We are not after the record anymore since we still hold the Guinness title of Longest Barbecue in the World,” Siapno bared.