DAGUPAN CITY – A fire drill was staged at the City Hall following the order of Mayor Benjamin S. Lim to cap the celebration of Fire Prevention Month.
 

Old timers at City Hall said it was the first time they joined a fire drill.
 

The said activity initiated by Lim urges the public to cooperate in the city government’s campaign to avoid fire incidents from occurring especially this summer as well as educate the people on what they should do in case a fire disaster occurs.
 

Lim, who led the evaluators and assessment team, enumerates areas of concern to focus on for improvement such as: lack of alarm system, wearing of helmets for identification of floor managers, lack of megaphone, wearing of gas mask, fire escape plan, evacuation plan and the immediate relay of information to nearest hospitals for emergency accommodation of the fire victims.
 

“The fire drill serves as an eye opener for us to identify our lapses in case a fire unexpectedly occurs at the city hall. We will conduct another series of unannounced fire drill exercises to schools, public markets and other similar places to prevent the tremendous damage that fire brings to not only properties but to the innocent lives,” said Lim.
 

Lim added the importance of fire exits to buildings and houses as well as the regular monitoring and checking of electric installations. He also appealed that everybody should work together towards fire prevention as emphasized in this year’s Fire Prevention Month theme: “Pamayanan sama-sama laban sa sunog.”
 

According to Dagupan BFP chief Manuel Manuel, the said fire drill aims to demonstrate how to ensure safety and protect the lives of the employees as well as important records and equipment and other valuable materials inside the office in case of fire.
 

Members of the public order and safety office (POSO), Dagupan Police, SWAT, Red Cross, City Health Office, City Information Office and other city hall departments participated in the sample rescue operation rendered at the Sangguniang Panlungsod where some city hall employees played the role of fire victims. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)

ALCALA, Pangasinan – A different kind of reunion will take place during the town fiesta here by the last week of April in honor of the patron saint, Holy Cross.
 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime reunion of all living fiesta queen of Alcala from pre-war to last year which would make the coming town fiesta queens of Alcala from pre-war last year which would make the coming town fiesta truly worth remembering.
 

Prency Quevedo, chair person of the committee in charge of this reunion, said she already contacted 20 former fiesta queens who signified their intention to attend the reunion to spark fond memories of yesteryears.
 

Of those contacted, two reigned fiesta queens of Alcala during the pre-war. They are Apolonia Espiritu in 1933 and Remedios in 1935.
 

All the fiesta beauties before Espiritu reign queen during her time already joined their Creator.
 

Interestingly, the only times that the town did not hold its fiesta were in 1942 and in 1973.
 

The reason for not holding fiesta in 1942 was because many of the town’s able-bodied men went to war and they were with the valiant United States Armed Forces in the Far East that made a last stand in Bataan and only forced to surrender to the Japanese invaders on April 9, 1942 by sheer exhaustion.
 

However, the fiesta resumed in 1943 and throughout the entire period of the Japanese occupation.
 

In 1973, the town’s elders decided not to hold fiesta because of the declaration of martial law the previous year.
 

Others joining the reunion are Purita Bacolor who was crowned fiesta queen in 1948; Aurora Quiambao, 1952; Aida Bacolor, 1958; Daisy Terrado, 1965; Letty Gasmen, 1966; Louella Dauz, 1967; Evangeline Espejo, 1972; Maritess Peregrino, 1980; Blesa Sumaling, 1981; Teofista Bisarra, 1991; Richealyn Tadeo, 1997; Marife Catubay, 1998; Carol Lorenzo, 2000; Niña Ricca Quevedo, 2001; Myrlene Rosquita, 2002; Ma. Luisa Ramos, 2003; Andromeda Manaois, 2004; and Vanessa Jane Versosa, 2005.
 

Alcala mayor Manuel Collado said the once-in-a-lifetime reunion of town fiesta queen was timed in during the Grand Homecoming of overseas Alcala residents.

Pista’y Dayat to feature grand parade of festivals
 

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The year’s Pista’y Dayat celebration slated from April 20 to May 1 at the historic Lingayen Beach here promises to be another event to remember with the holding of the Grand Parade of Pangasinan Festivals on May 1 as one of the highlights.
 

The parade is designed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the province and features at least ten of Pangasinan’s popular festivities being held in different places. These are the Galicayo Festival of Manaoag, Pandan Festival of Mapandan, Alaminos Longganisa Festival, Binmaley Sugpo and Malaga Festival, Mango and Bamboo Festival of San Carlos City, Puto Festival of Calasiao, Goat Festival of Balungao, Talong Festival of Villasis, Binongey Festival of Anda and Bolinao, and the grandest of them all the Pista’y Dayat Sea Festival. Dagupan City has its own Bangus Festival.
Engr. Alvin Bigay, provincial housing officer and committee chairman, said he has recommended to the executive committee that the sum of P20,000 be given to each participating contingent.
 

Participants have 7 to 10 minutes to present their respective entries at the Capitol Plaza, main venue of this year’s festivities.
 

Visitors and tourists could expect more than two hours of breathtaking presentation of street dancing with boisterous accompaniment of musical instruments of different types and sizes.
 

Colorful floats showcasing the province’s best products and delicacies will also be on display. To add zest and excitement, the participants are allowed to be escorted by prize-winning drum and lyre contingents from various schools.
 

Another eye-catching event is the Lipad Saya kite-flying competition also slated on May 1 with handsome cash prizes awaiting the winners, according to Emil Samson, Jr., committee chair.
 

As in previous years, the open competition is expected to draw entries from various parts of the country. Winners will be judged according to different categories: flat kite, geometric category, figure category, and there will be special prizes for the biggest kite, most artistic work, colourful and native kites. (PIO/Jennifer Domantay)   
 

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines - The entire city of the Hundred Islands will roll out the ‘red carpet’ for its returning sons and daughters who have been living and working in every corner of the globe and in some parts of the country when 2006 Hundred Islands Global Homecoming and City Fiesta celebration unfolds on March 11.

“This will be a perfect time to reminisce special memories with nostalgia, to renew bonds of friendship and camaraderie, and thank Almighty God for blessings showered upon us all these years,” said Alaminos City mayor Hernani A. Braganza about his latest brainchild.

The Global Homecoming is also geared towards gathering substantial support from Alaminian communities abroad to reposition the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) back to the world’s tourism map. Read more

SEASONS by MITA Q. SISON-DUQUE

IN diplomatic socials, next to toasts of sparkling champagne and formal dinners, a demitasse cup of after dinner strong black coffee, caps the evening.

To the unschooled, coffee is either instant or brewed, decaffeinated or regular, but not so to the coffee aficionados, a breed, which is continuously increasing in number with the opening of cafes and the popular production of brewed coffee makers such as Espresso Makers, Espresso Machine and Burn Coffee Makers. For indeed, coffee has its own unique history and its proper place, and in fact is the second most valuable traded commodity in the world nect to petroleum, with coffee farm incomes on a rapid rise. Read more

BY RHEE Fer HORTALEZA

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan - Month-long activities designed to draw interest, gregariousness and unity have been lined up as part of the celebrations of this year’s town fiesta, with virtually all municipal officials working towards the success of the affair.

Mayor Herminio A. Romero said that his early, preparations are in full swing for the celebration, which opens with the launching of an actin-filled Sangguniang Kabataan inter-barangay Basketball Tournament on February 4 and the Mangaldan Garden, Food and Trade Fair on February 1 at the public plaza.

Romero, honorary chairman of the 2006 Mangaldan Town Fiesta, said Vice Mayor Bernardo ‘Berex’ C. Abalos is the honorary vice chairman. However, it is lawyer-legislator Danilo S. Macasieb who is the executive chairman of the celebration, which culminates on March 6. Read more