STREET PARTY. A man looks at the grilled bangus (milkfish) ready to be served during the Kalutan ed Dalan at the central business district of Dagupan on April 30, 2022. The Kalutan ed Dalan is the highlight of the Bangus Festival. (Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Austria Jr.) DAGUPAN CITY - Amid scorching heat, a crowd whose excitement could not be hidden behind the masks were all going in the direction of the city's central business district and on Saturday noon which was closed to vehicular traffic for the occasion. Then the familiar beat of drums to the tune of Gilon La (harvest time) and the colorful costumes of dancers and finally, the symbolic lighting of the grills the Bangus Festival is back. After two years of hiatus due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the city government pushed the celebration with thanksgiving and even returned the festivity to its original venue. The highlight of the event was the Kalutan ed Dalan street party wherein over 4,500 kilos o
Dagupan City Mayor Marc Brian Lim (PNA file photo courtesy of Dagupan City PIO) DAGUPAN CITY - The famous Bangus Festival here will be held from April 28 to 30 after it was suspended for two years due to the pandemic. "The preparation is short. Nonetheless, the most important is the Kalutan Ed Dalan. Most important of all, it will not be held at the De Venecia Expressway which was very unpopular to the Dagupenos. After a long time, we will return the celebration to the downtown area for the people," Mayor Marc Brian Lim said in an interview Friday. From the time his late father, Benjamin Lim, launched the Bangus Festival and during his term as mayor, the annual Kalutan ed Dalan was along the stretch of A.B. Fernandez Avenue, and later extended up to Perez Boulevard. However, the past administration transferred the celebration to the De Venecia Expressway. In 2020, all plans and programs were put on hold after the whole of Luzon was placed under total lockdown for three months
CHILDREN'S VAX. Dr. John Fernandez, vice president of the Philippine Pediatrics Society-Northern Luzon Chapter and a critical care specialist, administers the Covid-19 vaccine to his son during the ceremonial launch of pediatric vaccination for five to 11 years old age group at the Dagupan City People's Astrodome on Monday (Feb. 14, 2022). His group was present to give assistance and consultation during the inoculation of children, including those aged 12 to 17 years. (Photo by Liwayway Yparraguirre) DAGUPAN CITY - The city government here started Monday vaccinating children aged five to 11 years old against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Dr. John Fernandez, a critical care specialist and vice president of the Philippine Pediatric Society-Northern Luzon Chapter, said their group fully supports the campaign to inoculate this age group. "Huwag matakot.Yong apprehensions na baka lagnatin, masakit, o nanghihina, ang mga ito ay typical reaction sa mga pasyente naming
Mayor Marc Brian Lim(PNA file photo) DAGUPAN CITY - Mayor Marc Brian Lim has declared an academic health break and suspension of classes from elementary to senior high school in all public and private basic education schools here from January 18 to 25. In Executive Order (EO) No. 03 issued on Monday, Lim cited the importance of mental health promotion in educational institutions. "The World Health Organization has issued guidance to countries on how to maintain essential services, including mental health services during the prevalence of the pandemic, and recommends that countries allocate resources to mental health as an integral component of their responses and recovery plans," he said. Under the EO, Lim said all online, onsite, or physical classes are suspended to give way to a weeklong academic health break intended not only to afford all students and teaching and non-teaching personnel of all public and private academic institutions in the city a respite from physical an
DAGUPAN CITY - The Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) has declared this city under a state of calamity in an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon. Mayor Marc Brian Lim sent a letter certified as urgent to the city council members, indicating the need to place Dagupan under a state of calamity due to the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Maring. "The passage of the resolution declaring a state of calamity in the city would enable the city government utilization of government resources and processes to address the calamity and to effectively restore and rehabilitate the living conditions and capacities of affected families, livelihood, infrastructure, and other service facilities of the city," Lim said in an interview. He noted that it had been three days since "Maring" ceased but the city's river systems are still at a very critical level, compounded by the high tide occurring early morning for several days now. "We expect that for the next four or five