VISITORS and locals are in for the grandest and merriest Dagupan Bangus Festival 2008 on April 16 to May 4 since the event’s founding, festival organizers are gushingly proclaiming this early.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, president of the CSI Group of Companies and executive chairperson of this year’s Dagupan Bangus Festival is making sure the celebration will include programs and activities that will involve not only the adults but also kids, according to Councilor Michael Fernandez. Who chaired last year’s celebration

Under Fernandez, preparations are well-organized, always ahead of schedule, no whining could be heard whatsoever, and everything they do is voluntary, the councilor said. In the past, according to the councilor, the organizer had to queue up long before offices in order to get sponsors, while in this bangus festival it is the reverse as sponsors are the ones queuing up to get the approval of the organizer.

Councilor Fernandez who is the event chairman on the Battle of the Bands called “Tunog Bangus”, said they do not worry about their budget which is taken cared of by sponsors.

The Dagupan Festival will open on April 16 with the holding of a grand parade, topped by the holding of Gilon-Gilon (a method of harvesting bangus) street dancing.

Security is being given much attention by the executive committee, especially during the street party on April 30 when thousands of people will flock to the street at one time to hear the big bands from Manila playing on top of different stages on A.B. Fernandez.

Street dancing will also be held during the Festival of the North that will feature all street dancing champions from various parts of Ilocos Region.

A Kundiman Festival featuring top university and religious choirs in Northern Luzon, including the search for the fairest, biggest, heaviest bangus in a contest called bangus rodeo, is also in the offing.

There will also be a national competition in bowling called Mayor Al Fernandez Cup, taekwondo, billiard, badminton, cycling, beach volleyball and others.

The Dagupan Bangus Festival 2008 will also feature an event called Dagupan Day Great Sale for all local businessmen to take advantage of unlike in the past when it was usually the visiting traders who were being benefited.

All participating stores will be known through signs and tarpaulins that will also indicate how much discount they are giving to buyers.

There will also be a Food Treat on Galvan Street at night from April 16 to May 4 when food stalls will be serving local delicacies for all the visitors to enjoy.