SYMBOL OF FAITH | The 17-meter (56 feet) statue of Christ the Savior is the main feature on Pilgrimage Island at the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City. This islet has become a popular site for pilgrims, especially during Lent. (Photo by WILLIE LOMIBAO / Inquirer Northern Luzon)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines — The province on Monday kicked off some major activities that have been drawing tourists and residents during Holy Week and the summer break.
In this capital town, the provincial government opened Pangasinan Day to celebrate the founding anniversary of the province and Pista’y Dayat (sea festival).
But since the events coincided with the observance of the Holy Week, organizers prepared a lineup of “toned-down” activities, including a street-dancing parade and a float featuring a fishing boat from the provincial capitol to the historic Lingayen beach, where a simple program was held.
Gov. Ramon Guico III and Vice Gov. Mark Lambino led the occasion with the symbolic lighting of a makeshift “parola” or lighthouse, signifying the opening of the tourism-trade expo where different towns display and sell their products and produce.
Pista’y Dayat is an annual celebration that was started by the local fisherfolk in the 1960s to celebrate the bounty of the sea but has evolved into a monthlong festivity that includes a beauty pageant, sand sculpting exhibits, an artisanal fair and beach games.
Pangasinan Day, on the other hand, is held every April 5 to commemorate the official foundation day of Pangasinan on April 5, 1580, when it became an encomienda and a province.
Cruise ship
Last Sunday, the luxury international cruise ship MV Star Breeze docked at the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) in Alaminos City.
MV Star Breeze, which came from Singapore, is the first luxury ship to visit the national park since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
According to the Alaminos government, local tour guides and boatmen took the visitors to the national park’s major islands—Pilgrimage, Ramos, Quezon, Governor’s, Lopez, Mimpis, and Marcos — where they tried ecotourism activities and watersports.
This year, three cruise ships are expected to visit HINP, the country’s first national park, which the city government hopes to strengthen local tourism that was hit by the pandemic.
According to Alaminos tourism officer Miguel Sison, the city is expecting an influx of visitors from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday.
He said more than 500,000 tourists visited the city in 2019, but this number dropped the following year due to health and travel restrictions due to the pandemic. In 2021, the Hundred Islands hosted 60,000 tourists, and in 2022, the number rose to 300,000, city records showed.