DAGUPAN CITY -- Halo-halo and Palamig does not only quench thirst or cool down the hot feeling this summer.

It gives the needed income or an add-on income to poor families who are engage in different micro-businesses depending on the season or climate. More importantly, to ambulant vending just “to keep the ends meet.”

Panagbenga 2009 blog

Bangus Festival 2009 will not only be sights, sounds, and food for the festival enthusiasts; and good advertising mileage for multi-national companies and giant television networks.

A unique event will be introduced this year. It is called “Halo-halo at Samalamig Festival.” It will be held on April 23 to 25 at the Senior Citizen’s Park in the city plaza.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, Bangus Festival 2009 chairman, said their partner in this event is Alaska Milk.

“The objective is to give livelihood to small businessmen in the city,” she explained.

It will not only be an opportunity to have extra income during the summer festival but also an opportunity to earn extra money.

Fernandez said the “Halo-halo at Samalamig Festival” is also a competition.

Priority participants are those halo-halo and samalamig vendors at the downtown area and those from the barangays.

Fifteen booths will be put up at the “food court” at the Senior Citizens Park.

A team shall be composed of not more than 10 members.

The competition is based on the following criteria: taste of halo-halo at samalamig (50 percent), use of ingredients (20 percent), uniqueness (20 percent) and creativity (10 percent),” the vice mayor said.

The team with the Best Halo-Halo will receive P20,000. Second and third place will receive P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, the team with the best Samalamig concoction will bring home P5,000 cash. First and second runners-up will receive P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

There will also be raffle prizes, parlor games like sack race, tug of war, halo-halo eating contest, biggest fruit, oldest Alaska poster or label, oldest pictures of Alaska events, Alaska novelty items, and others.

There will also be a search for Ginang Alaska 2009.

City Nutrition Officer Leah Aquino, event coordinator, said interested participants have to get an endorsement letter from their barangay captains or from the head of the organization they are representing.

They may also coordinate with the barangay kagawad who chairs the Committee on Health or with the Barangay Nutrition Scholar.

Deadline of submission of entry form is on Tuesday, March 31. Aquino aid entry forms are available at the City Nutrition Office, and at the Bangus Festival Secretariat at the City Museum. (LCMY/Sunnex)