New Year’s Revelers at the Capitol Beach Front. Thousands of Pangasinenses troop to the sprawling Capitol Beachfront in Lingayen last December 31 to celebrate the New Year’s Eve Countdown highlighted by the lighting of sky lanterns and 15-minute grand fireworks display. The celebration is Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s treat to Pangasinenses especially to those who have less in life. (PIO Photo by Senielda G. Reyes)
With their eyes looking up in the sky, New Year revelers welcomed the year 2013 with great joy in their hearts as they watched the spectacular 15-minute grand fireworks display as 12 midnight struck at the Capitol beachfront.
The holding of fireworks display has been a traditional new year treat of the provincial government headed by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr for the Pangasinenses who wanted to spend their new year countdown at the Capitol Complex, known to be the best in the country.
As early as 8pm on December 31, more than 1,500 Pangasinenses have started gathering at the Lingayen beachfront and brought their foods with them.
A mass was held at the Capitol Plaza at 10 p.m. Afterwards, the people trooped to the beachfront where cups of hot arrozcaldo were served free.
While waiting for the new year countdown, the crowd which swelled to over 3,000 people, were entertained with a variety of upbeat music by the live band of the Provincial government called Banda ni ATE that kept them in high spirits all throughout until the year 2012 ended.
Adding lights and colors to the fireworks display were the lighting up of a hundred sky lanterns which were released at the start of January 1, 2013.
After the revelry, most Pangasinenses thanked Gov. Espino for making their new year celebration a very memorable one.
“First time po namin na nakakita ng ganito kagandang fireworks lalo na sa amin na walang pambili ng paputok at pati na rin iyong pagpapalipad na sky lanterns. Nakakaiyak po,” one of the spectators said.
Joining the revelers were First Lady Mely Espino and her son Jumel, Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan and his family, GSO Chief Rolando Diaz, PPSSG Romeo Aquino, Chief Administrative Officer Irmina Francisco of the Governor’s Office, Municipal Administrator Poly Baltazar of Lingayen and some balikbayans. (Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)