Pagey Fest dance revelry deepens Pangasinan youth’s respect for rice farming
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Beyond the color and energy of the street dance competition, the first-ever Pagey Festival in this town left a lasting imprint on the youth, who said the celebration deepened their understanding of agriculture—particularly the labor behind rice farming.
Participants shared that months of preparation required them to study the step-by-step process of planting rice, locally known as pagey, to accurately translate farm work into choreography. Eight contingents, clustered from the town’s 73 villages, competed in the festival, each fielding about 80 to 90 dancers and technical staff.
Harizon Tolin said learning the intricacies of rice planting gave them a new appreciation for farmers.
“Mahirap po pala ang magtanim ng palay. Natutunan po namin ito sa mga practice namin kaya super appreciated po namin ang mga farmer,” he said, noting that the rigorous rehearsals mirrored the discipline and effort required in the fields.
For Sean Gabriel Cortez, who grew up in a farming community, the experience strengthened his connection to local culture and tradition.
“I see the farmers every day during cropping season. They are my motivation in the dance,” he said, adding that the long preparation instilled patience, teamwork, and discipline.
Malasiqui remains a predominantly agricultural town, with 6,191 hectares planted during the wet season and 1,629 hectares during the dry season. Rice production rose to 32,864.89 metric tons in 2025 from 29,778 metric tons in 2024, according to rice program coordinator Reymundo Gural.
Despite a series of weather disturbances last year, Gural said rice crops showed resilience. He noted that during the early weather onslaught, rice was still in the vegetative stage and managed to recover, while harvests were largely completed before Tropical Cyclone “Uwan” struck in November 2025. Although some low-lying areas were affected, most farms benefited from the rainfall compared to the drought experienced in 2024.
Pride, devotion, and realities
Integrated into the town’s annual fiesta honoring patron saint St. Ildephonse of Seville, the Pagey Festival also highlighted the people’s faith and devotion. Performances depicted prayers during calamities and expressions of gratitude after disasters.
Ken de Guzman, the son of a farmer, said joining the competition strengthened his pride in his father’s work.
“I am already proud of my father because his livelihood brings food to the table, and it made me even prouder of him,” he said.
The performances also reflected the reality faced by many farming families—choosing between staying in agriculture or seeking better opportunities overseas. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2022 Census on Agriculture and Fisheries showed the median age of agricultural operators at 49.7 years, with a decline of about 10,000 operators aged 15 to 24, underscoring the sector’s aging workforce.
Winning performance
The championship went to Contingent No. 4, composed of villages from Aliaga, Bakitiw, Don Pedro, Lepa, Palong, Polong Norte, Polong Sur, San Julian, and Warey. Their performance portrayed a farming family whose child leaves to work abroad but ultimately returns home to pursue farming—the profession he loves. The act featured modern agricultural practices, including the use of farm machinery.
The Municipal Tourism Office said it plans to register the Pagey Festival, held on Jan. 22, with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Mayor Alfe Soriano said the festival aims to celebrate and promote rice farming despite the recurring disasters that affect the province.
“While Malasiqui has other agricultural products, rice remains our major crop,” he said. “The festival showcases the hard work of our farmers, the importance of rice to livelihood and food security, and the community’s gratitude for nature’s blessings—highlighting unity, resilience, and pride in Malasiqui as an agricultural town.”
— NPO News Team | PNA-PR
