DAGUPAN CITY—About half a million people are expected to converge here for the staging of the world- renowned Kalutan ed Dagupan (Grill in Dagupan) that has made this city a Guinness World Record holder for longest barbeque
on April 30 at 5:30 p.m.

This is the culminating activity of the Bangus Festival, now on its fifth year, according to Councilor Nick Aquino, this year’s Bangus Festival chairman. Aquino said the Kalutan promises to be the ultimate party where people from all walks of life can watch various well known performers along A.B. Fernandez Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare while they grill the tastiest bangus (milkfish) in the world.

There will be 12 concert stages to be set up to accommodate a host of celebrities and popular bands to perform during the affair.

Bangus Festival was conceptualized and implemented under the administration of Mayor Benjamin Lim as a marketing strategy to gain world prominence of the city’s main product, bangus.

To rev up the Kalutan party, the grand champion of Dinagyang Festival Ati- atihan contest, accompanied by the top three winners of the Gilon! Gilon! Street Dancing will show their winning dance steps along the streets.

This year’s Kalutan focuses more on having great fun by enjoying varied music and by feasting on a huge buffet of the succulent Dagupan bangus, said event chairman Alex Siapno.

He said that they are not after the record anymore since the city still holds the Guinness title of Longest Barbeque in the World when it successfully staged its 1.007 kilometer long barbeque in 2003.

Lim recalled during the formal opening ceremonies of this year’s Bangus Festival last Friday that during the city’s first try, it was a “disaster” because the grills fell down and charcoal were nowhere to be found. The following year was an improvement after they assessed their past mistakes and the chairmanship of the festival was given to a non-government
organization PANDA Volunteer Fire Brigade Group. This made the city land in the Guinness World Record for the Longest Barbeque title.

In 2004, Turkey grabbed the title from the city, prompting city officials to stage another longest grill bid with its two-kilometer long grill. This, however, is yet to be officially recognized by Guinness.

“Like what I have been saying, in Dagupan, if everyone cooperates, we can easily do the job,” Lim said.

This year’s Kalutan is a reunion of all grill owners for all the past Bangus Festival activities. More people are expected to troop here after the activities were expanded in all the other towns under Pangasinan fourth
district like Mangaldan, San Fabian, San Jacinto and Manaoag.

Meanwhile, the police and public order and safety office members have drawn up security and traffic plans to be implemented during the Kalutan event.

Superintendent Edgar Basbas, city police chief, has commissioned the services of some K9s from Alaminos Provincial Mobile Police Force and the deployment of 150 police personnel along the Kalutan area. Six public
assistance centers will also be set up in six strategic areas for immediate
assistance.