DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 22 (PNA) — Preparations for the longest Dagupan City Fiesta ever is now in full swing following the creation by Mayor Belen Fernandez of a fiesta executive committee with City Councilor Jeslito Seen as hermano mayor (executive chairman).
Seen said this festival will incorporate the celebration of the 400th year of founding of Dagupan as a parish with activities centered at the Saint John Metropolitan Cathedral where a 400th Jubilee Celebration is slated on November 22.
Dagupan is an independent component city of Pangasinan and is not under the political jurisdiction of the province.
On November 12, activities like Food Strip and Street Bazaar called “Baratilyo” will open, said Seen, who assured that the revenues to be derived from these activities will actually bankroll the fiesta.
He assured that not a single centavo from the city coffer will be drawn for the fiesta, similar to what was done last year when for the first time in the city’s history, the executive committee headed by former Councilor Liberato Reyna Jr. never relied from city funds.
Other church-related activities include Day of Atonement and Penitential Services on November 28, Mass Wedding on December 6 to be officiated by Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Mass Baptism on December 12, Healing and Mass Anointing the Sick on December 10, Children’s Day on the theme “Bringing Hope to Children” on December 13, Mass Confirmation on December 19 and Holy Mass and procession on December 27 in honor of St. John the Evangelist, patron saint of Dagupan; and Enthronement of Three Saints on the same day at the cathedral.
Seen said the Dagupan City Fiesta will formally start with a Grand Civic Motorcade along the Downtown Loop, Lighting of the Christmas Tree in front of the City Museum and Philharmonic Concert and Fireworks Display at the City Plaza on December 5.
There will also be Arts Collage Workshop at the City Museum on Dec. 5 and 6, Car Show on December 5 to 7, Poetry Reading on December 6, Workshop on Literary, Poetry and Figure of Speech on Dec. 6 to 7, Araw ng May “K” and Agri-Congress on Dec. 8, Blessing and Inauguration of the Senior Citizens building on Dec. 10, Pediatric Medical Mission on Dec. 10 at CSI Stadia, Senior Citizens Night at the City Plaza on December 10;
Photo Exhibits of World War II from December 10-23; Volunteers Day on Dec. 14, Dagupan’s Five Prettiest on December 15, start of Misa de Gallo on December 16, Beat the Feat 2 on December 17, Employees/ Recognition of retired employees on December 19, Transportation Night on December 20, Seafood Festival on December 22, Dalton Night on December 21, Pawil Dagupan Cruise and Luncheon on Dec. 22, Media Night on Dec. 22, Night of the Knights on Dec. 23, Fireworks Display on Dec. 24, Pawil Dagupan Night on Dec. 26, Coronation Night on December 26, Release of bangus fry and fluvial parade on Dec. 27, Barangay Night on Dec. 27, Dagupan City National High School Grand Reunion on Dec. 28, Rotary Night on December 29, Rizal Day on Dec. 30 and Fireworks Display on Dec. 31. (PNA)