The Puto Festival 2024 is off to a sweet start in Calasiao, Pangasinan as the town celebrates its iconic delicacy with a variety of fun-filled activities that are sure to "puto smile on everyone's face."

The festivities started with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church, followed by a colorful civic parade.

To make the event more festive, a standout performance by the Drum and Bugle Corps wowed the crowd.

"Super saya po, ang nag-enjoy po kami. Sa mga kababayan ko po, Happy Puto Festival po sa atin at enjoyin natin this year," Rovi Villacorta, a resident, said.

The six-day celebration will feature various activities, with one of the highlights being the “Best Ways to Serve Puto,” set for Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay shared the history of one of the festival's signature events.

"Magmula po ng Puto Festival, nagkaroon po kami ng Best Ways to Serve Puto. Dito po nag-umpisa yang flavored puto na ngayon ay natitikman na natin," he said.

"Kaya every now and then pa rin ho naghahanap pa rin kami kung ano pwede [o] kung paano i-serve na para mas masarap [at] mas magugustuhan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa tumatangkilik sa Puto Calasiao," he added.

However, the start of the festival also caused slight traffic congestion in the town.

Afternoon on Tuesday, December 10, some roads were closed due to the street dancing competition.

"Yung mga motorista natin galing Bayambang, Malasiqui, Calasiao na papuntang Dagupan, pwede po kayong dumaan sa Lasip Road going Nalsian o sa Gabon going Paronking," Beejay Peralta, Chief of Calasiao Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), said.

"Lahat naman po ng galing Dagupan pwede pong dumaan ng Banaoang papunta po kayo ng San Carlos, Malasiqui, Bayambang. Yun po ang ginawa nating traffic scheme," Peralta added.