WHAT'S NEW

A little less than ten years after Dagupan City was ravaged by Typhoon Gading, Typhoon Cosme, the third typhoon to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year, more destructive than many typhoons that occurred in recent years, caused widespread havoc and damages to the city of Dagupan on the afternoon and into the night of May 17, 2008. It’s devastating strength was surprisingly unexpected although it was forecasted to landfall along the Lingayen gulf area.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo commended the Philippine National Red Cross for its swift emergency response to the needs of Dagupan City during the height of tropical storm Cosme. President Arroyo extended her congratulations to the PNRC during the National Disaster Coordinating Council meeting in Lingayen, Pangasinan on Friday.

While President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Congressman Joe De Venecia did not turned up to “bridge the gap”, the Pantal bridge and Dawel-Lucao diversion road nevertheless opened smoothly to the public without glitch in a simple ceremony attended by key national and local officials led by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr..

Co-workers and friends gathered together in an unabashed display of affection for Dagupan’s waste management division chief Reggie Ubando during the necrological service Monday night. Peers repeatedly described him as “an outspoken, intelligent, caring and tireless leader dedicated to his work and fellow workers.”

Telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) and the city government of Dagupan jointly ushered in 1,224 patients at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome for a free medical, dental and surgical mission last Sunday, May 4.

The 2008 Dagupan Bangus Festival has an added treat for art enthusiasts from April 28 to 30. TAMA ’08, the Tupada Action and Media Art Fifth International Action Art Event titled TUPADA REVOLT, brings eighteen international and twelve Manila-based visual artists to present free performance art to the public.

After having its opening ceremonies at the Rizal Park, Manila on April 25, Friday, the event travels to Dagupan City to celebrate the Bangus Festival and give audiences a taste of a different genre—action, time and space-based live art.

The largest constellation of entertainment stars from the country’s biggest television networks are set to descend in Dagupan City to lend shimmer and shine to the 2008 Bangus Festival.

Bangus Festival executive chairperson and Vice Mayor Belen T. Fernandez said media giants ABS CBN and GMA7 will usher in hundreds of its prized stars from their respective stables of Kapamilya and Kapuso talents from television, movies, music and other performing arts.

Native delicacies, grilled bangus, pork barbecue, pancit, puto, burgers, fries and sandwiches, a wide variety of beverages and hundreds of other gastronomic delights, including the local favorite pigar-pigar will lord over Galvan Street from April 16 to April 30.