Bangus Festival

Filipinos love their festivals. There’s rarely a month where a festival in honor of a good harvest, a patron saint, or anything else that might catch one’s fancy isn’t celebrated. One of the more colorful festivals in the Philippines is the annual Bangus Festival in Pangasinan.

 

HAPPIEST INDEED. The Bangus Festival in Dagupan is probably the best celebration for a fish in the country. (Logo courtesy of Bangus Festival 2014 Facebook page)

 

The Bangus Festival is the brainchild of former Dagupan mayor Benjamin Lim, seeking to promote the city as the Bangus (milkfish) Capital of the World. 2003 saw the festival featured in the Guiness Book of World Records when it secured the record for Longest Barbeque in the World (later taken by the town of Bayambang, Pangasinan in 2014).

 

DANCE TO THE SOUND OF BANGUS. Contestants from the 2014 Gilon Gilon ed Baley gather in the streets and show off both their talent in dancing and costume design. (Photo courtesy of Mitz Cresencio via Bangus Festival 2014 Facebook page)

 

This year, the festival will be held from April 6 to April 30, kicking off with the Gilon Gilon ed Baley Street Dancing Competition. Other highlights of the festival include the Festivals of the North, an event which highlights festivals other festivals in Northern Luzon as well as the Bangusan Street Party.

 

BEST BARBEQUE IN TOWN. The Bangus Street Party is the perfect way to end the festival: lots of grilled milkfish with some of the country’s best bands playing by nightfall. (Photos courtesy of Mitz Cresencio via Bangus Festival 2014 Facebook page)

 

Another highlight of the festival is the “Banguisine” Bangus International Cuisine Showcase. Chefs from around the globe gather to show just how many ways you can prepare Dagupan’s best product.

 

THE MANY WAYS OF HAVING BANGUS. The “Banguisine” showcases how you can have your bangus in a myriad of ways. A true East meets West event during the Bangus Festival. (Photo courtesy of Jojo Estrada Tamayo via Bangus Festival 2014 Facebook page)

 

For this year’s festival, the city also came up with Up North Music Festival to liven up the festivities. Bands such as Up Dharma Down, The Zombettes, and popular DJs like Katsy Lee and Tom Taus headline the event. TV networks GMA and ABS-CBN will also join the festivities. ABS-CBN will have its Kapamilya Caravan on April 23, while GMA will have a Kapuso Fans Day with Alden Richards on April 8 as well as join the Bangusan Street Party by having a Kapuso Night.

 

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE. Here’s the full schedule for Bangus Festival 2016.

 

Details:

What: Bangus Festival 2016
When: April 6-30, 2016
Where: Dagupan City, Pangasinan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bangus-Festival-2016-1074686965881468/

 

Source: http://bangusfestival.ph/about/, Visit My Philippines, Buy Me Buddy