Pangasinan holds farmers' festival

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan -- Local farmers and fisherfolk take the centerstage from May 17-20 as the province celebrates the Millennium Farmers' Festival at the provincial nursery here.

The fitting tribute is the provincial government's way of thanking the heroes in the agriculture sector for a good palay harvest every year despite the various calamities that destroy their crops, Jose Almendares, provincial agriculturist said.

This is aptly described in the theme: Pista Sa Nayon: Pasasalamat ng Bayan sa Magandang Ani at Kaunlaran.

As a way of thanking the farmers' patron saint, San Isidro de Labrador, there will be a thanksgiving mass as its pre-opening activity on May 15 at 8 in the morning.

On May 17 called Farmers' Day, there will be a farmers' parade, motorcade and costume parade, drum and lyre exhibition and formal opening of the trade fair.

On the same day, there will also be ribbon cutting of the Bahay Kubo Landscaping and Exhibits, inauguration/inspection of the farmers' pavilion and multi-purpose training center, tupa contest, pintakasi/karambola, cooking competition and folk media presentation of the rice, corn and vegetable farmers.