Pangasinan folk celebrate ‘Sea Festival’

CELEBRATION for the bounty of Lingayen Gulf. Villagers in some coastal communities of Pangasinan spend their day in local beaches to celebrate the annual Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival). Photo by Willie Lomibao

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Thousands of residents of Pangasinan province and neighboring areas trooped to local beaches to celebrate this year’s Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival).

The celebration began in the 1960s as the local fishing community’s simple thanksgiving celebration for the bounty of Lingayen Gulf.

It has since evolved into an annual event that featured different crowd-drawing activities in the run up to the actual day.

In this capital town, a commemorative program was held at the capitol beachfront after the traditional Thanksgiving Mass.

CELEBRATION for the bounty of Lingayen Gulf. As part of the annual Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival), Pangasinan villagers enjoy the bounty of sea served in a boodle fight, where two rows of one-kilometer long tables were set. Photo by Willie Lomibao

The program was followed by a boodle fight, where two rows of one-kilometer long tables were set.

In Dagupan City, a boxing championship was the crowd-drawer at the Tondaligan Beach. The celebration was capped by a gay pageant at the city plaza.

Villagers in the coastal communities of San Fabian town also joined the revelries. /kga