DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on late Saturday afternoon joined Dagupeños in the ceremonial lighting of grills during the culmination of the now-revived Bangus Festival.

The festival was postponed for two years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Mayor Marc Brian Lim and Duterte lit the kilometer-long bangus grilling station along A. B. Fernandez Avenue.

In her speech before thousands of Dagupeños, Duterte thanked Lim for inviting her, allowing her to meet her supporters and campaign for the former’s slate and the UniTeam.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Mayor Brian Lim at sa buong Lim family sa kanilang pag-imbita sa amin na makidalo sa inyong Bangus Festival. Congratulations sa inyong lahat. Ang UniTeam po, didiretso po ako sa pangangampanya sa inyong lahat,” Duterte said.

The Davao City Mayor also said that the celebration of Bangus Festival is an eye-opener to put efforts more on making businesses and industries resilient from any calamity like the COVID-19 crisis which partially crippled the country’s economy.

“Napakahalaga po ng ating celebration ng Bangus Festival. Dapat po, more than sa ating pagsasaya at sa ating festivities dahil una ito pagkatapos ng dalawang taon ng pandemya, ay na-highlight din po natin ang problema ng industriya natin sa palaisdaan,” Duterte said.

“Dapat din po napapag-usapan lalung-lalo na sa Bangus Festival ang mga kailangan nating gawin sa pag-aaral sa bangus, sa paghahanda sa mga kalamidad para po magiging resilient yung ating mga negosyo sa bangus,” she added.

Duterte, during her speech, briefly stopped to read a placard raised by a teenager bearing the message: “Mayor Inday, tumakas pa ako sa bahay para lang makita ka. Pag-uwi ko for sure mga gamit ko nasa labas na po. Hug and pic po.”

The teenager was later identified as Angel Mae Tayaba from neighbouring San Carlos City.

“Pagagalitan po ako dahil sa aking pagtakas sa bahay pero ramdam ko pong magiging masaya rin po sila para saakin. Tumakas po ako para iparating ang aking taos-pusong pagsuporta at pagmamahal sa ating susunod na bise presidente ng Pilipinas,” Tayaba said.

Growing without a mother, the teenager sees Duterte as a mother figure that the country needs.

“Sinusoportahan ko po sya dahil sa kabutihang-loob at tapang na tinataglay nya, at dahil rin po sa nagpapaka-mother figure po sya para sa aming mga kabataang taga-suporta niya,” she added.

The festival started on April 17.

Milkfish has been one of the top products of the city and a primary source of income of many residents.

Bangus Festival started in 2002. A year later, Dagupan was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest bangus grilling.

It has been an annual event for Dagupeños as their way to promote the milkfish industry and the fisherfolk.

Duterte was joined by UniTeam senatorial candidates Harry Roque and Robin Padilla.