LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Artistically-fashioned fluvial float entries from Binmaley town emerged standout in this year’s Banca Parada of Pistay Dayat celebration.
Bagging the top plum and a P25,000 cash prize in the fluvial parade’s barangay category was Dulag, Binmaley while Binmaley Local Government Unit (LGU) prevailed champion in the municipal/city LGU / National Government Agency (NGA) / Non-Government Organization (NGO) category.
Runners-up in barangay category were Lomboy, Binmaley and Capandanan, Lingayen which received P20,000 and P15,000, respectively.
For the LGU/NGA/NGO category, runners-up placements went to CENPELCO and Bayambang LGU which also received P20,000 and P15,000 cash prizes, respectively.
From the staging area in sitio Bantayan, Pangapisan in Lingayen, the fluvial parade sailed along the Limahong Channel of Agno river, crossing underneath the Domalandan bridge in Lingayen to reach the parade’s culmination area under Bugallon bridge.
Hundreds of Banca Parada entries, including entries for Capitol departments/offices category, captivated the eyes of Pistay Dayat revelers who took time to watch the fluvial parade in vantage points set by the organizers.
Winners for the Capitol departments/offices category will be announced during the regular flag raising ceremony of the provincial government on May 8.
Leading the Banca Parada was Governor Amado I. Espino, III along with Sangguniang Panlalawigan members led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and San Roque Power Corporation Vice President for Corporate Affairs Tommy Valdez.
Conducted annually at the peak of Pistay Dayat celebration on the 1st day of May, the Banca Parada which traverses the historic Limahong Channel, a captivating natural feature of Pangasinan, showcases the beauty and rich resources of the revived rivers of Pangasinan.
By Dexter A. See
