A LOCAL writer-historian attributed the ‘secret’ for the exquisite taste of the Bonuan bangus (milkfish) to the mixture of fresh water and salty water in Dagupan’s fishponds, a factor not present in the waters of other coastal towns of Pangasinan and in the entire country that also produce bangus.

Historian Restituto Basa, once publisher of the defunct newspaper “Agno Valley News”, said fresh water from the Cordillera, Sierra Madre and Zambales Mountain drain into the Agno River watershed that ends up in the Lingayen Gulf through various rivers in Dagupan City.
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GOVERNOR Amado T. Espino, Jr. led Thursday the formal opening of the 2008 Pangasinan Pistay Dayat celebration with great sounds filling the air in the evening at the Narciso Ramos Stadium, Lingayen.

Pangasinenses and visitors alike were treated to the first-ever historic and highly awaited Grand Orchestra and Dancesport Showdown 2008.

Five orchestras kept the Fiesta orchestra culture alive again in Pangasinan opening the Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival) with a production number to the tune of Malinak lay Labi waltz version and the swinging beat of the song Bongga Ka Day. Read more

LINGAYEN –A huge crowd of some 10,000 converged at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) Stadium here on opening day of the Pista’y Dayat, April 24, to watch the province’s top orchestras and agile dancers show their wares in the first Grand Orchestra Showdown and Latin Dance Competition.

A downpour before the event failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd of mostly native romantic music lovers and dance enthusiasts of all ages.

The event satisfied the crowd’s thirst for a new and unique entertainment that has hardly been given the proper promotion before in any Pangasinan festivity, the organizers said. Read more

LINGAYEN – Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. formally opened the 1st Pangasinan Tourism and Trade Expo held at the Girl Scout of the Philippines extension lot here with invited guests led by Deputy Press Secretary Anthony Golez and Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Martin Valera.

The governor said that although Pangasinan is endowed with a wide array of natural and man-made tourist come-ons, the province still lags behind other provinces in the region in terms of tourism industry. Read more

YOUNG singers from San Fabian and Mabini won the grand championshis of the of the Takayan Na Dayew ed Kapitolyo (vocal solo contest) at the Capitol Plaza in Lingayen.

Becoming the toast of their towns for their singing renditions are Nikki Mermolejo of San Fabian and John Michael S. Narag of Mabini town for the ugogaw and balulaki tan marikit portion respectively. Read more

ALAMINOS CITY – Funds for the conduct of a feasibility study for the proposed Pangasinan Airport Project here have already been released.

This was disclosed by Mayor Hernani Braganza in his State of the City Address who said this was relayed to him by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.

A similar report in a North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle (NLAQ) leaflet appeared to support the disclosure on the funding of the airport.The leaflet was distributed as part of NLAQ info materials during the opening of a photo exhibit of the Office of the Press Secretary at the Tourism and Trade Expo in Lingayen last Friday. Read more

By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

SAN EMILIO, Ilocos Sur – Four persons were killed and 15 others injured when a passenger jeepney plunged into a deep ravine while negotiating a road in Barangay Tiagan, San Emilio, Ilocos Sur around 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Police said the victims were on their way home to Sta. Marcela, Apayao after they attended a family reunion in Quirino, Ilocos Sur when the jeepney’s mechanical brake malfunctioned.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and it careened downward from a steep hill before plunging down a ravine about 150 feet deep. Read more

CAMP PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur - The Ilocos Sur police has ordered an in-depth investigation into the killing of a policeman and a civilian in front of a videoke bar near the Sta. Lucia public market in barangay Barangobong here last week.

Senior Superintendent Virgilio Fabros, Ilocos Sur police director, said he was saddened by what happened to SPO3 Jeoffrey Palacio, chief investigator of the Sta. Lucia Police on the night of April 17.

Palacio died on the spot with about 20 wounds in different parts of his body inflicted by bullets from an Armalite rifle. Read more

URDANETA CITY – Although the widening of the national highway in the city proper here has already been completed, work on it is not yet over.

Mayor Amadeo R. Perez Jr. said the middle portion of the highway will be scrapped and changed with a new pavement.

Funding for the pavement of the highway, from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Rep. Mark Cojuangco, has already arrived. Read more

BANGUED, Abra – A lawyer was shot and killed by unidentified suspects inside his office, located right at his residence along Pratt Street, Zone 4, Bangued, Abra last Sunday afternoon.

The victim, Atty. Demetrio Pre, 75, was talking to his client when the suspects barged inside his office and shot him twice with the use of a caliber .45 pistol.
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