LINGAYEN – The provincial government of Pangasinan is now busy preparing for the week-long celebration of this year’s Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival).

With the theme, “Say Dayat Bilay” (The Sea as Source of Life), the festival, which is an annual thanksgiving for the bounty of the sea, will also be focused on the urgency of protecting and conserving the ptovince’s coastal environment and resources, particularly the Lingayen Gulf.

Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis, Jr., executive committee chairman, said that one of the major activities of the Pistay Dayat is the presentation of awards to the winners of the Search for the Cleanest Coastal Municipality, which has been going for several years now, to drum up awareness and participation of the local government units and various sectors of the community in the coastal clean-up and protection efforts.

He said new features aside from the yearly major events are being planned, such as chorale competition, various races, and landscaping demonstrations.

Solis, however, stressed that the provincial government is enlisting the support of the private sector through sponsorship of selected events of activities in line with the province’s cost-cutting policy.

The celebration will start on April 24 with the opening of the Panangidayew Trade, Tourism, Food and Garden Fair, opening of the “PanAGartela Art Exhibit spearheaded by the Pangasinan Artists Group, and “The Sky is the Limit” model airplane competition.

Beginning April 17, the Baratillo sa Capitollo 2006 will open until May 7.

The tentative schedule of the other major events are: Limgas na Dayat talent competition, April 24; “Burned Rubber” model race car competition by El Puerto Marina, April 25; El Puerto Marina ATV Open, April 26; Drum and Lyre Competition, Formal Opening Ceremonies, painting demonstration, ATV championship, chorale competition, April 27;

GVEA Cup Boxing Elimination, April 28; Palaro sa Beach, landscaping demonstration, April 29; “Buhay sa Buhangin” sand-sculpting competition, GVEA Cup Boxing Championship, Limgas na Dayat Coronation Night; April 30; “Misa na Pisasalamat,” Parade of Pangasinan Festivals; street-dancing, and Kite Flying Competition, May 1. (Donna F. Domagas/PIO)