Mother of all Festivals set in Lingayen Pangasinan on April 5

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A festival, dubbed as ‘Mother of all Festivals,’ will unfold here as the province celebrates its 430th foundation day on April 5.

This will be the maiden Pangasinan Day celebration, made possible by a provincial board ordinance adopting April 5 as foundation day of the province following a research and study conducted by a committee created by Governor Amado Espino Jr.

The committee, headed by former Vice Governor Gonzalo Duque, president of Lyceum Northwestern University, established through a year-long research and study that Pangasinan was founded as a province under Spain on April 5, 1580.

Provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, speaking for Espino, said the first founding anniversary rite would feature spectacular and historic events that benefit as well as entertain multitudes of Pangasinenses.

The celebration will start with a thanksgiving mass and highlight the inauguration and blessing of the newly upgraded Sison Auditorium, which is dubbed as Cultural Center of Northern Luzon.

This will be followed by the groundbreaking and inauguration of the Lingayen Eco-Tourism Zone in Barangay Estanza, Lingayen, one of the mega-projects envisioned by Espino.

Espino earlier said that the occasion would strengthen the identity of every Pangasinense who deserved to know their point of origin.

During the event, the new provincial seal and historical marker that depicts the year 1580 as the foundation date would be unveiled before the public in the commemorative program prepared by the provincial government.

After this, the inauguration and blessing of the renovated Sison Auditorium will immediately follow, preceded by float and civic parade dubbed “Parada na Dayew Mi.

Baraan said that the parade would highlight the pillars of Pangasinan with 13 floats to showcase the timelines in the history of the province.

The 13 floats will represent the following historic eras of Pangasinan: pre-Spanish period; 1572; 1574; 1580; Revolt against the Spaniards; Casa Real establishment; Pangasinan Katipuneros led by Don Daniel Maramba; 1899 (Phil-American war); 1901 (Taft Commission); 1919 (Inauguration of Capitol building); 1941 (Japanese invasion); 1945 (Landing of Gen. Mc Arthur); and Golden Era.

The Pangasinan Eco-Tourism Zone project envisions to establish Pangasinan as a major investment destination and family vacation and convention center.

An ASNA Awards Night and Ball will also be held at the Sison Auditorium with former Governor Conrado Estrella as guest of honor and speaker.

ASNA awards aims to give recognition and focus public attention to outstanding Pangasinenses whose selfless dedication to their profession or vocation has resulted to outstanding contributions to the welfare of the people in Pangasinan and to the country.

Arabela Arcinue, chairperson of the awards committee, said that former President Fidel V. Ramos would receive a special award for being the most senior leader and the only full-blooded Pangasinense to become the President of the country.

Arcinue said 11 awards would be given under various categories, that include government service, community service, arts and culture, medicine, agriculture, mass communications, business and entrepreneurship, law, education, science and technology, and sports.