DISREGARDING political undertones of his move, House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. joined the Bangus Festival on Monday night for a chance to honor Dagupan City’s number one marine product-bangus, despite the merrymaking’s signal points for Mayor Benjamin S. Lim..

He was joined by administration city candidates led by former Immigration Commissioner Al Fernandez and former Councilor Belen Fernandez in handshaking with the crowd that flocked here during the festival.

Along the stretch of A.B. Fernandez, the downtown area, they could not resist the invitations of families for them to eat with them barbecued bangus.

“For once, there ought to be reconciliation and unity,” said De Venecia, admitting that the Bangus Festival was the brainchild of, Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim, his challenger in the political derby in the fourth district of Pangasinan.

He said they were there just to greet the people and do their share in honoring the great contributions of bangus to the city’s and Pangasinan’s economy.

Unknown to many, the bangus industry in Dagupan is now more than 200 years old, de Venecia said, adding that his forefather actually pioneered the industry here.

“With their earning from bangus, they sent their children to school. My grandfather sent my father and his sibling to school,” he said.