Labor Day in the province of Pangasinan is also an annual celebration for the bounty of the sea that gives livelihood to many families, through the month-long Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival).
Celebrations started on April 5 during the province’s founding anniversary, and will culminate on May 4.
For this year, the provincial government opted for a street dance exhibition, showcasing eight contingents that highlighted the festivals of their localities told through dance and songs, instead of the street dancing competition with parade due to high heat index in the province.
Governor Ramon Guico III, in his speech on Wednesday, said they took into consideration the health of the participants and attendees to the event.
Prior to the exhibition, the provincial government held fluvial parade in line with the celebration of Pistay Dayat but it was changed to a float parade that also gave accolade to the whole agricultural sector of the province and not only its aquaculture industry.
The exhibition featured the Hundred Islands Festival by Alaminos City, Padanom Balligi Festival of San Manuel town, Bagoong Festival of Lingayen town, Talong Festival of Villasis town, Karabasa Festival of Umingan town, Mango-Bamboo Festival of San Carlos City, Pakwan Festival of Bani town, and Kankanen Festival of Asingan town.
“Today is Labor Day but we also celebrate the mother of all festivals in the province. It will not be complete if we do not celebrate the talents and culture of the localities in our province,” Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino said.
This year’s Pistay Dayat has new offerings such as the PangaSINE Film Festival and the Asinan Music and Arts Festival.
The PangaSINE featured 10 outstanding short films by Pangasinense filmmakers as the activity aims to encourage their creativity, discover and foster Pangasinenses who have talent and skills in filmmaking, and to produce “Pangasinan-made” quality films.
Participants attended short courses in story writing, screen/scriptwriting, producing, directing, cinematography, photography, and editing among others.
The pool of mentors included Baby Ruth Villarama, Edward delos Santos Cabagnot, Moira Lang, Zig Dulay, and Richard Dico Cawed.
The Asinan Arts and Music Festival, on the other hand, gave way to the Pangasinan handcrafted products and music.
The art activities included art installations, buri-weaving, bamboo weaving, creative recycling, and pottery among others. There were also book and poetry reading of articles and poems by Pangasinense writers.
A battle of local bands has proven the versatility of Pangasinenses in music genre while soloists compete in the Takayan na Dayew, where Pangasinense singers also showcased their talents.
In turn, the Limgas na Pangasinan pageant was participated in by 19 candidates representing their towns and cities.
As part of the pageant, a Costume Festival exhibit that showcased the works of 19 Pangasinense designers inspired by the different festivals of the localities of Pangasinan was held from April 18-23 at the SM City Rosales.
“It is our way to let the Pangasinenses see a part of Pista’y Dayat celebration by bringing the exhibit closer to them, especially to the people from Eastern Pangasinan. The costumes highlight the designers in tune with the theme Ang Ganda, Ang Galing Pangasinan,” Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office head Malu Elduayan said in an interview.
The festival gave the designers and the creative industry more exposure to promote their talents and skills, she said.
Designers who took part in the exhibit and whose creations were modelled by the beauty pageant contestants are Raymark Balmaceda with his “The Golden Harvest” costume worn by Ruth Mae Artates of Sual town; Joedel Adviento for Pinaglakwan Festival (Alyssa Jeneveve Paidlion of Urdaneta City); Bartolome Loresco Jr. with his Gintong Ani (Izzy Nina Villamil Bernardino of Sta. Barbara); Bobby Padubar and his Feast of Saint Ildephonese (Jenesse Viktoria Mejia of Malasiqui); Renel Suarez and his Puto Festival costume (Diana Mae Pangan of Calasiao); Bryant Aunor for his Balon-Balon Festival gown (Paulie Alexa Camat of Binalonan); and Thonete de Ocampo with Pintang Festival (Camille Angela Suratos of Mangaldan).
Also, Jorick Limpag Creation for Karabasa Festival (Reeven Sabado of Umingan); Nenet Moscos-morden and his Talong Festival costume ( Kathleen Andaya, Villasis); Arby Tangaun Baquirin with the Kankanen Festival Costume (Irish Anne de Guzman Caido, Asingan); Bench Fredhie and his Pandan Festival costume (Danica Nevado Maglalang, Mapandan); Roger Vallesterol with the Patupat Festival (Lyha Yzhienne Murao Lalo, Pozorrubio); Edison Bergantinos with his Goat Festival (Jary Lopez Paaica, Balungao); Ysai Gandia with the Padanom Festival (Yra May Secretario, San Manuel).
Rodel Dioso for Galicayo Festival (Jay Ann Zarate, Manaoag); Jerry Gamboa with his Kanen Festival (Rebecca Rose Ayuban, Urbiztondo); Thea Mendoza with the Tupig Festival costume (Tonette Alexandrea Mendoza, Mangatarem); Jose Gil Disu with the Darayat Festival (Andrea Ravanzo Cayabyab, San Fabian); and Sergio Sison with his Bagoong Festival (Pearline Joy Malogan Bayog, Lingayen).
Limgas na Pangasinan 2024 World Lyha Yzhienne Laylo of Pozorrubio town, who will represent Pangasinan in the Miss World Philippines next year, said she plans to advocate for the care of children with special needs as she herself has a sibling with special needs.
The other title holders are Limgas na Pangasinan 2024 Grand Jenesse Viktoria Mejia of Malasiqui town and Limgas na Pangasinan 2024 Mutya Pearline Joy Bayog of Lingayen town.
Guico said the celebration aims to highlight the natural beauty of the province, with its pristine beaches and waterfalls, among others.
Other culminating activities include a baywalk and beach clean-up drive, anti-drug campaign and the agri-tourism trade fair and expo until May 4. (PNA)
