BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR
The town of Lingayen officially launched the three-day Bagoong Festival 2025 on March 20 with lively street parades and colorful celebrations.
Thirty-two barangays and bagoong concessionaires participated in the opening ceremony, which serves as a way for the town to express gratitude for the blessings from the sea and its thriving bagoong (fermented fish sauce) industry.
“Bagoong has been a big help to us—it provided income for my family and my workers,” said Menandro Molano, a bagoong producer. Vendors also highlighted the industry’s impact, with Rio Caysido noting that her business helped her build a home.
During the opening program at the municipal gymnasium, Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, the festival’s executive chairman, emphasized the spiritual significance of the event. “All these blessings come from God, and we honor Him through this festival,” he said.
Meanwhile, DTI Regional Director Merlie Membrere praised the festival as a reflection of Lingayen’s rich tradition and entrepreneurial spirit.
Festivalgoers were treated to free samples of bagoong-infused dishes, while balikbayan Gerald Torres, who returned from Canada, described his experience as nostalgic. “It’s always great to come home to where you came from,” he said.
One of the festival’s highlights is a guided tour inside a bagoong factory, where visitors can witness the traditional fermentation process.
The celebration will run until March 22.
