ONE of the summer surprises included in the city’s celebration of Bangus Festival 2006 is the staging Beach Volleyball Championship Games that involves lots of action and spiking on white sand on April 27 to May 1 at the City Plaza.

Mayor Benjamin Lim will lead the ceremonial serve during the opening ceremony at 8 am to formally open the competition.

According to Manny Gatchallan, chairman of the event, top-rate volleyball teams from universities and colleges in Manila were invited to participate in the event such as the University of the Philippines, University of Sto. Tomas, Far Eastern University, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Dela Salle –St. Benilde College, PATTS University of Aeronautics, St. Louis University and University of Cordilleras.

Gatchalian bared that movie actress Isabel Granada was invited to participate in the beach volleyball women’s division to represent PATTS University.

“We will give the beach volleyball competition a touch of summer in Boracay by bringing white sand at the city plaza,” said Bangus Festival 2006 chairman Nick Aquino.

The winning team will receive a total of P15,000 in cash prize, P12,000 for the second place and P10,000 for the third place. Each of the winning teams will also take home unique, bangus-inspired trophies as a fitting memento for their active participation in Dagupan City’s celebration of Bangus Festival 2006.