Dagupan opens Bangus Festival 

DAGUPAN CITY – Bangus Festival 2016 has officially started!

Thousands of people from all walks of life flocked to the main routes of the Bangus Festival 2016 Grand Opening parade on April 8 to welcome the official opening of the festival and to watch the performance of the six clustered-contingents in the Gilon-Gilon Street dancing competition as they danced their way to the city plaza for their focal presentation.

The grand parade was led by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez along with Bangus Festival 2016 chairman Marvin Fabia and the members of the city council and the different department heads.

The University of Luzon Drum and Bugle Corp gave an outstanding performance as they also danced on the streets with their rendition of marching songs along with the colorful parade of floats.

The city plaza was equally jampacked by crowd who did not just watch the performance of the contingents but also to seeGMA’s popular artist Alden Richards who serenaded the crowd with his songs.

At the end of the opening program, Cluster 2 which is composed of barangays Pantal, Carael, Lomboy, Salapingao and Pugaro was declared as this year’s grand winner in the Gilon-Gilon Street dancing competition.

Cluster 4 which is composed of barangays Caranglaan, Bacayao Sur, Bacayao Norte, Herrero-Perez and Mayombo was first-runner up and Cluster 6 composed of barangays Tebeng, Tambac, Mangin, Mamalingling, Salisay and Bolosan was second-runner up.

Cluster 2 received a cash prize of P150,000; while the first runner up got  P100,000,  and the 2nd runner up, P80,000 while the non-winning contingents each received P30,000 consolation prizes.

Cluster 2 also swept all the minor awards being the Best in Street Dancing, Best in Costume, Best in Props and Best in Showdown for which Cluster 2 receive corresponding cash awards, all  amounting to P70,000.

After winning the competition, Cluster 2 earned the right to represent the city in the forthcoming Festivals of the North on April 15.

Happy with the success of the opening ceremony, Fernandez extended her invitation to everyone to be part of the other major activities of the festival where more GMA Kapuso stars will also be coming. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)