Pistay Dayat Tripple Advocacy

Lingayen- - -From a simple fisherfolks’ thanksgiving feast for a year-round bountiful harvest, Pistay Dayat has now transformed into a tri-advocacy event under the administration of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Since 2008, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. spearheaded the sea festival’s total repackaging from a mere thanksgiving celebration to a more meaningful feast with genuine goals anchored on tourism, environment and sports as its core advocacies.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan said that this year, the provincial government has set its sight on promoting further the third advocacy since Pangasinan has slowly become the “sports mecca” of North Luzon being dubbed as a favorite venue for most national events like Palarong Pambansa in summer last year.

Baraan noted that having successfully hosted such a grand sports event which is the biggest in the country, the Espino administration is more serious this time to make Pangasinan worthy of the monicker.

Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman, Chairperson of Pistay Dayat 2013, said that to add meaning in its triple advocacy, the sea festival committee has lined up tourism-related activities  which include Tourism and Trade Expo, Bonsai Exhibit, All American Classic Muscle Car Show, Sayawan ed Aplaya Competition and Kapuso Night.

De Guzman said that the Tourism and Trade Expo which served as the opening salvo of the sea festival last April 19 is an activity that aims to showcase the very best of Pangasinan from agricultural and fishery products to plants, garments, native delicacies, and farm products that are known to every town and city of the province.

The expo will run until May 4 with nightly activities transpiring every night to delight and entertain spectators.

Bonsai Exhibit, a component of the Plants and Garden Exhibits of the 6^th Pangasinan Tourism and Trade Expo will showcase exquisite bonsai collections of the province’s best bonsai enthusiasts.

Said exhibit will include variety of bantigue, local plants, and penjing.

Seminars and forum will serve as side activities of the exhibit which will kick off on April 22 until May 4.

All American Classic Muscle Car Show scheduled on April 27, is an activity sponsored by El Puerto Marina featuring authentic car collections of Pangasinense car afficionados.

Sayawan ed Aplaya, certified crowd hit, is participated in by best Pangasinense street dancers representing their locality’s festivals. It has an added twist this year as contingents from Luzon region were invited by the Pistay Dayat executive committee.

Held on April 30, the participating contingents will assemble at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) and will pass through the major thoroughfares of Poblacion, Lingayen (Artacho St., Avenida St., and Rizal St.) and will wind up to Maramba Boulevard and Capitol Complex straight to the beachfront where they will each perform their best rhythmic moves to the delight of everyone.

 Kapuso Night, a post Pistay Dayat activity slated on May 2 is a gathering of the popular stars of GMA 7.

For its environmental advocacy, Sand Sculpting Competition is one activity that aims to further raise the level of awareness and appreciation of the people on the sea’s ecosystem and non-living things like sand.

Dalisay Moya, Chairperson of Sand Sculpting Committee, said that the contest is open to a group composed of five members regardless of gender and must be a bonafide resident of Pangasinan.

However, Moya noted that the competition is limited to 25 participating groups only thus, she added, that registration will be on first-come, first-serve basis.

She said that interested participants can get the official entry form from the Sand Sculpting Secretariat located at the Provincial Agriculture Office, Malong building here.

Contest proper is on April 30, 5am at the beachfront.

The main highlight of the festival is the Banca Parada which is expected to wow every spectator on May 1 (main day), as colorful and aesthetically painted motorboats will sail along Agno River with Barangay Bantayan in Lingayen as starting point and Banaga Bridge in Bugallon being the end point.  This float parade will be capped by the Dragon Boat Exhibition.

Water Search and Rescue, Simulation Drill by the Philippine navy slated on April 29 is another activity that aims to increase people’s awareness on human safety. This will transpire at the Capitol beachfront.

Doypuay Kalangweran 2013 (Youth Camp) is an activity that brings together student leaders in Pangasinan for an overnight environmental appreciation rendezvous.

The environmental protection advocacy will end with a clean-up drive covering the beachfront area on May 3.

For its sports advocacy, several activities were conceptualized this year to include the 4^th Gov. Espino Cup “Paboksing ed Gulpo,” Triathlon Challenge, Beach Volleybelles Competition, Palaro sa Dagat with Kite Flying, and Water Sports Activities.

Paboksing of Gulpo on April 27 will feature the boxing prowess of young Pangasinenses under various weight divisions.

Triathlon Challenge, on the other hand, is a must-see activity which will be participated in by invited participants where three sports event will be featured specifically swimming, cycling and running.

Beach Volleybelles Competition, which is a crowd-drawing event, will feature female volleyball players from leading schools in the province and Metro Manila with their spikes ready to excite every spectator on April 30.

Water Sports Activities featuring parasailing and banana boat rides are first time activities this year which will be conducted on April 30 and May 1.

 Palaro sa Dagat with Kite Flying is a fitting tribute to the various traditional Filipino games like hulihan ng biik, palosebo, sipa and luksong tinik. Summer fun for Filipinos will never be complete without kite flying thus the sea festival committee has included it as among the highlights of the local game.