Dagupan in ‘fishy’ bid to land in Guinness

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — Talk about a license to grill. City officials here are up to something "fishy" which they hope will be one for the books.

On April 30, Dagupan will hold its annual Pista’y Dayat or sea festival. And there’s no better way for the city — known for its bonuan bangus or milkfish — to highlight the seafood festival than with a bangus festival.

But it’s not just any ordinary eat-all-you-can fish feast.

Festival organizers are inviting officials from the world-famous Guinness Book of World Records to document what city officials hope would be the world’s longest grill and the largest grill party.

It was Mayor Benjamin Lim’s idea to hold the Kalutan Ed Dagupan, which will cover 1,001 meters of the whole stretch of A.B. Fernandez Avenue.

Before the fish party begins, there will a be a Gilon! Gilon! street dance competition along the city’s main thoroughfares. Participants will be wearing — what else — bangus costumes.

In the evening, the aroma of bangus will mix with blaring music, courtesy of popular bands from this city and Manila.

Manny Yao, chairman of the festival organizing committee and president of the Dagupan Bangus Jaycees, said about 40,000 people are expected to attend the event.

Aside from the grill galore and street dance competition, Yao said there are other activities such as a Mutya ng Dagat beauty pageant and "101 Ways to Cook Bangus" demonstrations.

For those who are not fond of milkfish, other dishes will be offered.