Binmaley celebrates thriving fishing industry

BINMALEY, Pangasinan , Philippines   â€“ This town’s residents showed their renewed enthusiasm with their all-out support for Saturday’s staging of the annual Sigay Festival showcasing the success of the local fishing industry through the simultaneous grilling of seafood products in a grand street party.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario, who started the festival in 2010, said the event is a big boost to their aquaculture industry and an opportunity for the townsfolk to showcase their unity and hospitality, which every home displays during fiesta celebrations. 

“I am happy again to see excited faces and more people coming together to join us in this celebration,” he said.  

With the huge crowd that gathered in the town proper to enjoy a night-long grilling of bangus (milkfish), malaga, prawns, and tilapia that are abundantly produced here, Rosario said there is no doubt that the Sigay Festival’s aim to foster a stronger bond among the local folk, vacationing Pangasinenses and visitors was achieved.  

“Sigay” is a Pangasinan word that connotes fishing. Because of its abundant fish production, Binmaley is known as the “aquaculture center of the north.” The town is located along the central coastline of Pangasinan, facing the Lingayen Gulf, sandwiched by Lingayen, the capital town, and Dagupan City, the “bangus capital.”   

Some 150 one-meter grill pads were set up in three stations, and people enjoyed grilling while swaying and singing to the beat of a live band in each station. A 10-minute fireworks display delighted everyone at 8 p.m. Saturday. 

Councilor Edgar Mamenta, the event’s chairman, said people enjoyed the street party like one big happy family.  

Vice Mayor Pete Merrera, the hermano mayor of this year’s fiesta celebration highlighted by the Sigay Festival, said they have prepared religious, cultural, fun and entertainment activities until Feb. 2. 

Municipal agriculturist Butch Ferrer said there are 2,752 hectares devoted to bangus production here. Twenty-two of the 23 barangays have inland fishponds.