DAGUPAN CITY—About 4,000 delegates of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games will experience the fun and excitement of the Kalutan ed Dagupan (Grill in Dagupan) that made this city a world record holder when they themselves will grill bangus (milkfish) in a repeat of the world famous grill tonight (Wednesday, Feb. at the city plaza.

Lawyer Gonzalo Duque, president of PRISAA and regional president of said sports organization in region 1 who spearheads this week-long sports competition in Pangasinan, said this will be a once-in-a-lifetime treat for the athletes and the first time that a national event staged in this premier province will themselves take part of the bangus grill.

“I am really happy that God has been guiding us and letting us have a lot of experience in terms of how we prepared the games and the hosting,” Duque, also the president of Lyceum Northwestern University based here, said.

Pangasinan is lucky to host the event after PRISAA’s 53 years in existence. President Gloria Arroyo graced the opening ceremonies Monday at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in the capital town of Lingayen.

“It (the hosting) will project us as a gracious host,” Duque added

The bangus grill will be courtesy of Dagupan City government with each delegate provided free with one-half bangus, one hotdog and one barbeque.

Each of the 16 regions will be given about three grills which they can use to cook their food.

The party starts at 6:00 p.m. and about 2,000 pieces of delicious bangus, the world-famous product here, will be grilled.

Butch Velasco, city information officer, told this writer that there will also be a lighting ceremony of the grills to be lined up similar to what they did when they made the successful attempt for the Guinness Book of World Records title for the longest grill. The fire will snake through the grills lined up in the area which will surely make the delegates’ stay memorable, he said

“It will be a simulation of the thrill we experienced during the Guinness try,” Velasco said.

While having their dinner, the delegates will be entertained by the live performance of Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, Mocha Uson, a local talent who is now making waves in the music industry in the metropolis and Highlights Band, a Dagupan-based band.

Meanwhile, Velasco said the city plans to have a reunion of all grill owners of the two previous Bangus Grills this coming April 30.

Letters have been sent to grill owners informing them to confirm their participation until Feb. 20 for their participation.

The grills they purchased will be repainted and a Guinness logo will be painted on it signifying the record the bangus grill made in the Guinness.

That will surely become a collector’s item, Velasco said.
Owners of grills used from 2002 up to 2005 are welcomed to bring these cooking equipment for the staging of another kalutan on April 30.

On May 7, 2003, the city beat Peru’s record of 630 meters with its 1,007.5 meters bangus grill for the longest barbeque record.

Though the Guinness gave the city a certification for its feat, the victory was not posted on the Guinness website. But the euphoria of Dagupeños was only short-lived when Turkey did a successful attempt with its 1,600 meters grill. This prompted the city government to grab again the title as it staged another longest grill April last year with its 2,000 meters long bangus grill.
But the city is still waiting for the official confirmation of Guinness about its latest try.

As of press time, Dagupan’s 2003 successful bid is the one flashed on screen in the Guinness website. The city government will write Guinness management because it looks like the information is not updated, Velasco said.