Sun.Star: Weeklong Dagupan Day celebration starts

DAGUPAN CITY -- With the observance on Tuesday of the country’s 109th Independence Day is the beginning of the weeklong celebration of the city’s 60th Agew na Dagupan or Dagupan Day. This year’s Agew na Dagupan’s theme is “60 Glorious Years." Mayor Benjamin Lim will lay a wreath at the monument of Jose P. Rizal located at the Senior Citizens Park in the city plaza after which he will administer the oath to 35 high school student leaders who will serve as city mayor and department heads for one week under the guidance of their counterpart city officials and department heads. City Information Officer Orpheus Velasco said a talent show billed as “Action in Focus" will be held on June 13 while the Dagupan Music Artists Guild will hold a Malaineng ya Arte na Dagupan concert on June 14 at 7 p.m. in the city plaza. San Miguel Corporation will stage a free rock concert in the city plaza on June 15 at 7 p.m. Public and private school teachers in Dagupan City will undergo a seminar dubbed as “I Love Museum" on June 16 while Filipino-Chinese residents here will showcase Chinese culture and art through Chinese music, dance and fashion at the city plaza. It will be the turn of University of Luzon’s multi-awarded drum and bugle corps to entertain the Dagupeños on June 17 at 8 p.m. at the city plaza. The events lined-up on June 18 are: Sarag Mi Met talent show by people with disabilities, and the Sukatay Talisew academic competition among Dagupeño students, both to be held at the city plaza. On June 19, which marks the birthday of Jose Rizal, Dagupeños will pay tribute to the national hero by unveiling three versions of his literary work “Mi Ultimo Adios" at the Rizal Shrine, which will be followed by the unveiling of a marker and photo exhibit in commemoration of the centenary of Dagupan’s water tank. On the same day, Dagupeñas clad in Filipiniana costumes and escorted by the city’s 31 barangay chairmen will hold a parade in the downtown area dubbed as Paraday Barangay. On June 20, the City Government will hold the Agew na Dagupan Night at the People’s Astrodome. Choirs from the different universities and colleges in the city will perform Pangasinense songs accompanied by the Philippine Pop Orchestra. Ten outstanding Dagupeños who have given significant contributions to the city will be recognized during the event. An exhibit of the city’s past will be displayed at the Edades Hall of the City Museum and at the City Hall. The highlight of the 60th Agew na Dagupan celebration is the oath-taking of the newly elected city officials led by Mayor-elect Alipio Fernandez and Vice Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez. - Sun.Star