Thousands of revelers from all walks of life filled a more than three-kilometer stretch of the Jose de Venecia Expressway Extension in Dagupan City on April 30, celebrating late into the night the famed Bangusan Street Party—the penultimate and most anticipated highlight of the 2026 Dagupan Bangus Festival.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, joined Mayor Belen Fernandez, Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, and other city officials in leading the ceremonial lighting of 1,000 interconnected grills at around 6:00 p.m., officially kicking off the festivities.
Earlier in the day, Mayors Zamora and Fernandez formalized a sister-city agreement, strengthening ties through friendship, cooperation across various sectors, and cultural exchanges between their cities.
This year’s street party was notably more organized than in previous editions. Grills were set up ahead of uniformly red tents, with designated spaces kept clear along the center of the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
An estimated 20,000 pieces of bangus—Dagupan’s signature product—along with assorted meats and vegetables, were grilled and shared among families, colleagues, and groups of friends who gathered for the celebration.
Six bands, in stages strategically positioned along the stretch, served as the main attraction, performing lively modern hits that kept teenagers and music enthusiasts energized well into the early hours of the morning.
City officials placed the crowd size at close to one million, though some estimates ranged between 500,000 and 600,000. Despite varying figures, the steady influx of attendees continued past 10:00 p.m. Because of the size of the crowd, there were reports of people fainting and had to be carried to field clinics.
Authorities had initially anticipated a smaller turnout due to economic challenges and global concerns, including tensions in the Middle East affecting oil supply.
However, the people of Dagupan and nearby towns turned out in force, determined to uphold the long-standing tradition.
The event remained peaceful and orderly, with the Dagupan City Police Office deploying around 400 personnel, supported by an additional 100 officers from Police Regional Office 1.
But there were few reports for wallets and cellphones being lost.
The festive atmosphere extended beyond the main venue, spilling over into the nearby CSI Mall grounds, where another live band kept the crowd entertained throughout the night.
Written by Leonardo Micua
PUNCHphoto by Willie Lomibao