Pangasinan heritage celebrated in musical show

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Gov. Amado Espino Jr.’s move to awaken the cultural and historical sensitivities of Pangasinenses got a big boost with the successful staging of the first-ever, full-length cultural and musical show featuring the province’s rich culture at the Sison Auditorium here Friday night.

“Asin ed Asinan,” derived from the word “asin” (salt), was performed by provincial employees and officials belonging to the Danggoan ed Pangasinan (Theater in Pangasinan). The performers got a standing ovation during the gala show.

The three-day show aimed to revive Pangasinan heritage and eventually raise the awareness of the youth on the province’s artistic and cultural roots. 

The performers, clad in colorful costumes, sang and danced with gusto, depicting a fusion of pure Pangasinan culture and foreign cultures like the Spanish, American and Chinese. 

The performers, who are all employees of the provincial government, wowed the audience with native dances such as the kalatong (which uses bamboo sticks), wasiwas (danced by wives of fishermen waving lamps in the seashore while waiting for their husbands and their catch) and the sayaw ed tapew na bangko (danced atop benches).

The show also featured Pangasinan songs, some of them original compositions of Raul “Insyong” Tamayo, who was also the scriptwriter and executive director of the show, as well as some Ilocano songs that represented the Ilocano culture, and an ensemble of popular English songs of yesteryears.

Some government officials and important personalities also went onstage, led by Espino and his wife Priscilla, Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, and mayors led by their league president, Bugallon Mayor Rodrigo Orduña.