Fishermen’s festival held in Binmaley

BINMALEY -- The launching of the town’s first ever Sigay Festival Tuesday evening was very successful. It was the biggest picnic and get-together held in this town.

Three bands strategically located at near the municipal hall gave entertainment while the party people partook with the bangus, malaga, sugpo, hipon, tilapia and other freshly harvested fishes they grilled.

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There was also a fireworks display.

Sigay Festival highlights the town’s fishing industry. It is a thanksgiving for the good harvest the town has been experiencing and has been bringing in good income to the local treasury.

Mayor Sammy Rosario and his wife Grace (chairman of the fiesta committee) lighted the more than 100 grills signaling the start of the ihaw-ihaw (grilling) and street party.

About 20,000 local residents and visitors packed the Poblacion area where the festival was held.

Rosario said they plan to hold the Sigay Festival again next year and in the coming years and “make Binmaley known all over the country and worldwide.”

He added that this is a celebration as fishes (especially the small ones popularly known in the local parlang as sari-sari that are usually being caught by marginalized fishermen) have started to thrive again at the town’s rivers.

“Nong bagong upo ako bilang mayor noong 2004, wala na tayong makita na sari-sari (o yong mga maliliit) na mga isda dahil sa mga fishpens sa ilog natin. Pero ngayon bumalik na ang mga isdang ito na pinakikinabang ng mga maliliit na mga mangigisda at mga ordinaryong mga kababayan natin,” he stated.

With his strong political will to cleanse their slowly dying rivers due to pollution, Rosario was able to cause the removal of all fishpens and fishcages here. All left standing are some bamboo poles (used in the fishpens), which are being used for talaba (oyster) propagation.

“Ang Sigay Festival ay selebrasyon at pasasalamat. Masayang tuwang-tuwa ang ating mga kababayan. Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa kanilang suporta sa ating mga programa at sa paglulunsad ng ating sariling festival,” Rosario said.

Each of the participating group have their own grill, which they bought at a minimal cost of P1,500.

The mayor said the cost included bangus and charcoal, and provision of a table with 10 chairs. They participants brought with them other cooked food and drinks.

Mrs. Rosario said the three live bands were donated by balikbayan Engineer Dan Jimenez, the Vinluan family, and San Miguel Corporation.

The fireworks display was donated by former party-list lawmaker Kim Lokin.

Binmaley is considered as the “fishbowl of Pangasinan” and is the biggest producer of fishes in Ilocos Region.

Rosario said 60 to 70 percent of the town’s income comes from the fishing industry (fishpond).

Based on the data coming from the Municipal Agriculture Office, being cultured at its fishponds are bangus (2,750 hectares), prawns (791), malaga (220 hectares), and several hectares for tilapia. (LCMY/Sunnex)