LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- – -The 437th Agew na Pangasinan celebration on April 5 will be marked with various activities that will highlight the province’s rich and colorful history.
Pangasinan’s founding anniversary will start with a thanksgiving mass at 8 AM to be held at the Sison Auditorium.
After the mass, a commemorative program will be held where Gov. Amado I. Espino III together with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and members of the board will award prizes for this year’s winners of Kurit Panlunggaring Literary Contest.
The commemorative program’s guest of honor and speaker will be Ms. Rebecca Bustamante-Mills, President of Chalre Associates who is also an ASNA awardee.
Immediately after the program, the governor will open the Pangasinan Trade and Tourism Expo at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC). Various local products will be on display until the Pistay Dayat celebration.
Street-dancing in Parada na Luyag will make the event festive with the performances of contingents from different towns and cities in Pangasinan, enlivening the province’s history, festivals and culture.
A live concert dubbed Konsyerto ed Kapitolyo will feature the performances of Mitoy and the Draybers Band along with some local talents to include Banda ni Pogi, Renz Ruther Robosa, Arah May Robosa, John Paul Dimaculangan, among others.
Meanwhile, April 5 has been declared as a special non-working public holiday in Pangasinan by President Rodrigo R. Duterte through Acting Executive Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra who signed Proclamation No. 179 on his behalf.
Earlier, a measure to institutionalize the holiday was made by former governor now 5th district Congressman Amado T. Espino, Jr. and 2nd district Congressman Leopoldo N. Bataoil.
House Bill No. 2794 entitled “An Act Declaring April 5 of Every Year as the Pangasinan Day and A Special Non-Working Public Holiday in the Province of Pangasinan,” will soon be a law.
Correspondingly, the Pangasinan provincial board approved Provincial Resolution No. 603-2017 on its regular session on March 20 endorsing the passage of the bill filed by the two congressmen. (Ruby R. Bernardino)