The summer heat didn’t stop the crowds from enjoying the vibrant performances during the “Gilon-Gilon ed Baley,” one of the main events of the Bangus Festival 2025 held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in Dagupan City.

Street dancers in bright costumes and energetic music took over the streets as 31 barangays competed in six clusters.

Each group showcased their moves inspired by the local bangus (milkfish) harvest.

“Yung pi-no-portray po ng sayaw naming yung Gilon-gilon…’yung pag-harvest ng mga bangus,” Kim Salvador, a street dancer, said.

Audience members were thrilled by the performances.

“Sobrang enjoy po namin…tapos yung mga dancer magaling…’Yung mga tao na nandito still nag-enjoy, ang ganda ng ipinakita nilang talent,” Den Sarmiento, one of the spectators, said.

Cluster 6, made up of Barangays Lasip Chico, Malued, Pantal, Lucao, and Tapuac, took home the championship and also won Best in Street Dancing, while Cluster 2 won Best in Costume.

The festive weekend continued on Sunday as Barangay Malued held its very first Palitaw and Lawer Festival, where around 15,000 pieces of palitaw (a traditional Filipino rice cake) were made and shared with guests.

According to local legend, Malued got its name from the word “Malawer,” referring to the Lawer plant that once grew abundantly in the area.

Barangay Chairperson Filipina Delos Santos said their goal is to help locals turn the rice cake into a known product.

“Gusto kong matulungan ang ating mga kabarangay na mai-promote at mai-market ang kanilang produkto. Para marami tayong matutulungang pamilya,” she said.

Four guest dance groups also performed during the celebration.