By Ruby Bernardino

LINGAYEN – This year’s celebration of Pista’y Dayat in this scenic capital town promises to be a marvelous adventure by the beach with various activities that anyone can join to win prizes.

Aside from the regular features that include the grand parade of Pangasinan festivals, variety shows, trade, tourism, food and garden fair, beach sports and the Limgas na Dayat beauty pageant, there is also for the first time swimming competitions and the “Hawaii Centennial Photo and Philatelic Exhibits.”

Added to all these are the other crowd-drawers like kite flying and sand-sculpting competitions, the boisterously electrifying drum and lyre exhibition, and the colorful arts and photo exhibits of renown Pangasinan artists.

Starting last Wednesday, a fiesta atmosphere has started to build up around the Capitol Park down to the beachfront here as preparations go fever-pitch, marked by daily rehearsal of the Limgas hopefuls and the construction of trade fair booths and the arts exhibit center.

Once again, the grit and mettle of young boxers from Pangasinan will be put to test at they slug it out with other pugilists from other provinces and cities in the Gov. Victor E. Agbayani Kid Boxing Championship.

For the penny-pinchers, the Baratillo Sa Kapitolyo 2006 will be a welcome treat where everything form kid stuff to kitchen wares can be obtained at bargain prizes. Visitors and tourists may take part in the native sports by the beach or the chorale competition and have a chance to go home with wonderful prizes.

The Limgas na Dayat coronation gala is slated on the night of April 30 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center gym here.

A thanksgiving mass to be participated bin by fisherfolk, government employees, and visitors will be heard early morning of May 1 at the Capitol Plaza to kick off the day’s main festivities which will end up with a fitting tribute to the festival’s sponsors in the evening.