If there is one or two things people in Mangaldan have in common , they are their love of their roots and adherence to their traditions . One of the most upheld traditions is the celebration of our Town Fiesta which we celebrate to honor our Town's Patron Saint , St. Tomas Aquinas.
It has always been the most important time of the year and the focal point of all activities . If our memories do not fail us , it was the time when we were allowed to buy a new dress, a pair of new shoes " tan manpakulet so bibii tan manpapoklis so lalaki , piano maong so itsura tayo ya miparada tan mimisa ."
And now , no matter where we are , we carry along that excitement and anticipation for that traditional event . It may not have the real frills and treats but the thrill is still there. The difference now is the importance of reconnection of families and friends.
On March 10, 2007, The Mangaldan Association of North America held it's annual dinner-dance celebration of the Mangaldan Town Fiesta at the Sheraton Plaza in Burlingame , California . It drew a big crowd of Mangaldanians and some guests. Mangaldanians from as far as Texas and Alaska joined the locals , kabaleyans in San Francisco and the surrounding cities . Mangaldanians had so much fun reconnecting with each other . Ditas Palisoc Sarzaba ( Vice - President of MAONCA ) and Victor ( Boy ) Salvatin Jr, the unofficial "paparazzi " went around with their digital cameras , capturing the joy and happy faces of the attendees . It is with great pleasure that I would be the instrument in sharing those moments . Perla Biala Cruz the incumbent President and all the officers and volunteers did a great job in reuniting "sankakabaleyans" . 
This was the reception table with Ditas Palisoc Sarzaba making sure that Myrna Abril , Judith Prado Fornales and Lani Marron Basuel have everything in control when the guests started arriving .
This picture shows Boy ( Victor ) Salvatin Jr., Lourdes Aquino Sampaga , Marc Sampaga and Remy Barrozo . Were they the first arrivals ? Boy had to be early , being the unofficial "paparazzi" of the night ...
Presenting the President of MAONCA , Perla Biala Cruz , and Delia Abril Ordonio 
, Treasurer of the association. 
Dick and Ditas Palisoc , Teresita Oca, Carolina Oca, Lourdes Aquino Sampaga, Marc Sampaga , Carol de Guzman Suarez, Tito and Bernie Prestoza ,Zoilo (Jun) Cendana ,Gil Gutierrez and Rey Suarez were about ready to grab their seats when the "paparazzi " took this photo ... 
Delia A. Ordonio, Anita Gutierrez , Prexy Perla B. Cruz , Marilou M. Jue , Gil Gutierrez , Ernie de Vera , Letty de Vera , Manuel and Marilyn de Vera are in the picture on the left.
The Aquinos of Manteca , California are Isaias ,Theodore, and Art (standing ). Seated are Esther T. Aquino , Ellie F. Aquino, Letty Lalicon Aquino , Esther A .Tecson and Zeny A . Pranada ..
Picture on the right shows husband and wife , Lorie and Lito Lavarias formerly of Estasyon , Mangaldan
Some more beauties in the evening are Tessie Vasquez , Dina Finley, Nanette Reinertsen, Rhea G. Pasalo , Franciso Vasquez, Nonong Billote, Rene and Fe Cereno and Mayene Cereno . 
Ladies at this table ( right ) are Maryann Tamayo, Boots Doria, Annie Bautista, Thelma de Guzman Nejal, Babylen Malanum Sagurit and Tessie de Guzman .
Damaso ( Dading ) and Conching Prestoza and their guests at this table. The nice orchid on their table was one of the centerpieces of all tables which were later sold as their fund raiser .
Beauties on the go are Violy Tamayo, Zenaida Torio Itchon, Mommy Josie Torio, Majella Torio Wilhelm, Perla B. Cruz, Lani M . Basuel , Remy Barrozo and Annie P. Cancino .The gentleman at far right is Roland Itchon , Zeny's husband . 
Zoilo ( Jun ) Cendana, Tito and Bernie Prestoza, Dick and Ditas Sarzaba, Lani Basuel, Anita Gutierrez , Marilou M. Jue are all standing while Marc and Lourdes Sampaga and Perla B. Cruz remained seated .
Here are the Abril family; Jhong, Winston and Teresa, Venus,, Nelson del Rosario , Letty de Vera, Vangie Abril and Mameng Abril .
We have Annie P. Cancino, Remy Barrozo, Ernesto and Letty de Vera, Marilou Marron Jue and Dina Marron Abreu posing for posterity .
Presenting the Entertainers of the evening with the Prexy , Perla B. Cruz and Executive Vice president and Choreographer Nelson Ordonio. Nice work , Nelson and ladies ! ! 
Long time California residents Lourdes (Aquino) and husband Marc Sampaga doing the foxtrot or is it samba? ???? 
Isaias and Letty Aquino, Francisco and Tessie Vasquez and Ranier and Cecilia Gutlay are all smiles in this picture at right..........
Napo and Mayene Cereno ,Noeme Cereno Palma, Dinah Cereno Finley, and Rene and Fe Cereno took time out for the "paparazzi" to take this picture . 
Picture on the right shows Delia Ferrer Galang and her husband , Adela Servito Ferrer , and Gil Gutierrez
At this table we have Clayton Jue, Spoke and Dhel ( nee Llobrera) Sioson , Boy and Lea Gonzales , Tess Madrinan Marilou M. Jue and Larry Cruz , husband of Perla , the Prexy of MAONCA. 
Picture on the right shows Flor and Lilia Abrogar, Tony , Elisa , Tess and their guest .
Fred and Mila ( nee Ferrer ) , and Melba ( nee Ocay ) and husband Leo del Rosario sharing a table . 
Picture (courtesy of Arturo Aquino ) , below left , shows Lourdes Aquino Sampaga who reconnected with the Aquinos; Arturo , Ellie , Theodore , Isaias , Ester , Zeny and Adela S. Ferrer and daughter Delia.
Mr Arturo and wife Amparo (Soriano) Rabano, and Efren and Judith ( Prado )Fornales are in the picture at right , above .
Please join Thelma Lalaquit, Delia Ferrer Galang and the Aquino sisters in their line dancing ....
The Oca family who have always supported the MAONCA in their activities ,Carol, Rudy, Joe ,Maricel and friend.. Seated are Gilda , Christopher and Jonathan. 
Mangaldanians have their pogis ( as well as their beauties ). Here are some of the pogis, Joseph Cereno , Fred Cereno, Jun Cendana, Joe Oca and Francisco Vasquez .
Picture on the left includes Demetrio Fernandez, Dick Sarzaba, Rey Suarez, Carol Suarez, Trinidad Fernandez Sasajima, Ditas Sarzaba, Tessie de Guzman, and Enrico and Teresita ( nee Fernandez ) Servito .
It is Macarena time .... join in the fun , ladies and gentlemen . It is a good dance as well as a great exercise .
This special Fiesta Celebration was graced by the presence of representatives from the Pangasinan International Caritable, Inc ; the Dagupenans Assn .; the Dagupenos Assn .; Bonuan Assn. ; Urdaneta Assn. ; Balungao Assn. and Jean Balarbar and company of San Fabian. The Officers wish to thank and acknowledge their presence ..
" MAALIGUAS LA LAWAS KOMON SO PINABPABLEY TAYON BALEY NA MANGALDAN TAN SARAY AMIN YA MANGALDANIANS ED NAN BABANGIL YA PASEN ED MUNDO !!! "
Kudos to the officers of the MANGALDAN NORTH CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION for a great fiesta celebration ! ! The most important accomplishment of this get-together is the reconnection of former townmates . Congratulations to the 
following officers...
Note: Please click on all the pictures to enlarge them and totally enjoy looking at them ....
to; oca family miss you all! always take care mwah... you have a nice picture on this site...godbless.......
Posted by: irene | July 06, 2008 at 10:06 AM
i like this site the pic. is very lovely..specialy the oca family have a nice pic.and a lovely faces..take care guys.
Posted by: irene | July 06, 2008 at 09:59 AM
MABUHAY ANG MGA PALISOC!!!
Posted by: John Paul Palisoc of SanCarlos | April 24, 2008 at 10:30 AM
i love this site thank you so much your pictures are great!!! everyone looks soo pretty. this is so cool and everyone is so beautiful!!! love it !!!
Posted by: Naneth Reinertsen | May 13, 2007 at 10:45 AM
i love this site thank you so much your pictures are great!!! everyone looks soo pretty. this is so cool and everyone is so beautiful!!! love it !!!
Posted by: Naneth Reinertsen | May 13, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Greetings:
I am a friend of Jhong Abril and i saw your site and found out that you have an access with the family, kindly help me to connect with them because i'm here in North Carolina, USA (cosilap787@yahoo.com)this is my email add where he can contact me and i am so proud with my friend and their family. I also wanted to let you know that your site helped us a lot and more power to you and God bless.
Posted by: Rolando "Jojo" Palisoc | April 11, 2007 at 12:13 PM
What a night MAONCA!!!
The pictures show it all. Great celebration..…great venue..…those beautiful Mangaldan ladies in their best outfit and some in their best gowns, the men in black looked smart in
their best tie from the rack, I would say those legs must have been exhausted doing the macarena and line dancing . The dance floor must have been fully booked the whole night!!
Congratulations to the Executive Officers (Perla, Ditas and others) for a successful fiesta celebration. Well done. No doubt you guys do it big over there in the USA.
Boy Salvatin, great job on the pics. You must have been busy the night. You should be the official “Paparz” next time. But most of all congrats and thanks to Marie for presenting the celebration on the website to all the Mangaldan “wantoks” from all over world, wherever they are.
Great to see the lovely and happy faces of our kabaleyan in action eg. my former classmates Gil Gutierez and Anita, Delia Ferrer ( anymore Macarena and line dancing?) and Dr Galay, Dick and Ditas, my family friends Art and Isaias family, the lovely Marron sisters - Marilou, Lani and Digna , my relatives Atsi Amparing Soriano Rabano, Efren and Judith (Prado) Fornales – miss you guys and again thanks for the hospitality whilst I was in California..
Marie – Many thanks for sharing the fun and celebration with us here from Down Under Australia. We will catch up next when Pec Visperas submits his regular write up on whats cooking in Australia….Cheers
Posted by: Ramon Orap | April 03, 2007 at 02:35 PM
Atchi Marie,
Thank you very much for your article about our Town Fiesta Celebration here in San Francisco .
The evening was a wonderful affair. It was well attended by our kabaleyans residing in different locations here in California as well as neighboring states. Everyone arrived dressed in their best attire, surprised and very excited to see old friends, classmates,neighbors whom they haven't seen for a long time . There was much fun and dancing,but best of all, it was obvious that everyone was extremely happy to see each other once again. Indeed, celebrating our town fiesta away from the hometown stirs a lot of memories and enables us to re-live our festive activities when we were still in our old hometown .
I would like to congratulate you and Kuya Djoma for your brilliant idea to launch this website, ALIGUAS MANGALDAN .Your website enables us all Mangaldanians residing at home and abroad to stay well-informed and updated of each other's events and plans. This makes us feel reconnected with our dear old Mangaldan back home.
Again, congratulations and keep up the good work .
Ditas Palisoc Sarzaba
Posted by: Ditas P. Sarzaba | March 19, 2007 at 06:01 PM
Dear Boy ( Victor ),
Thank you for your very positive comment on the posting .Your letter is very well written . It is always a pleasure to be a part of any Mangaldan activity anywhere .When I received the pictures you and Ditas e-mailed me , my adrenaline started flowing . It was like I was going back to the good old days . I saw the faces of people I have not seen for so long and my mind raced back and forth as I was editing them . I did not mind doing everything at the middle of the night because I was enjoying so much what I was doing . I felt like calling the people I saw in the pictures. I felt so much satisfaction in what I did because I know that our kabaleyans all over the world will be able to reconnect through those pictures .
The interest you have expressed and shown in reconnecting with Mangaldanians surely touch a chord in my heart. It has always been my wish that the younger generation like you will carry on with the traditions of our town ( including not forgetting to speak our dialect, Pangasinan or Pangasinense if possible ). I felt really glad when Ditas told me that the younger generation have taken an active role in organizing this fiesta celebration as well as the next activities of the association . It will be an assurance that the torch will be passed on to the next generation . I feel so happy and proud of you Boy ( or Victor ) for your interest in reconnecting with your roots .
Posted by: Marie Aquino Junio | March 17, 2007 at 02:00 AM
Correction: (see above for the invitation from Perla Biala Cruz, the incumbent President of the Mangaldan Association of Northern California)
Posted by: Victorio Aquino Salvatin Jr. | March 16, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Auntie Marie,
Thank you very much for the posting and your remarkable rendition of the celebration -- you captured the very essence of what a Town Fiesta is all about. I know you work tirelessly, even late at night after work just to get the last minute changes from Atchi Ditas and me. A job well done! Your sincere dedication to better acquaint our kabaleyans through this medium is much appreciated and admired.
Back in the 80’s, I remember my parents used to bring us to the Mangaldan Association of Northern California Annual Family Picnic. When my own family moved to Sacramento, CA in 1991, I lost track, but through the wonders of the vast cyberspace, luckily I got reconnected. And, I always have that longing to be with my kabaleyans, so I didn’t think twice of attending the Mangaldan Association of Northern California online invitation for a dinner-dance celebrating our Town Fiesta. The celebration was grand -- the ballroom, food and music (live performance by Joe Alvarez) were exceptional. The dance floor was always full with the graceful dancers from our town and our neighboring towns from Pangasinan and other places. It’s a night to remember. I encourage our kabaleyans to attend the next dinner-dance.
I would also like to encourage our kabaleyans to attend the Mangaldan Association of Northern California Annual Family Picnic (see below for the invitation from Perla Biala Cruz, the incumbent President of the Mangaldan Association of Northern California) and support the association. As well as, reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Most importantly, to instill and pass along our tradition to the next generations.
Posted by: Victorio Aquino Salvatin Jr. | March 16, 2007 at 11:38 PM
Perla,thank you for your early invitation for the family picnic.You and the other Mangaldanians are also invited to the Mangaldan Group in Vancouver's family picnic on Aug.4th, 2007 at Jericho Beach , Vancouver . Great job in your Town Fiesta celebration , Perla .
Atchi Marie
Posted by: Marie Aquino Junio | March 16, 2007 at 01:25 AM
Thank you very much for posting our pictures taken during our Town Fiesta Celebration and hope our fellow Mangaldanians will enjoy seeing their relatives,friends,neighbors and classmates
And also, the MAONCA officers and members is inviting you to our Annual Family Picnic on July 29,2007 Sunday from 10:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M at the Orange Park Shelter n So. San Francisco. It is a potluck ocassion and election of new officers.
Posted by: perla cruz | March 15, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Perla,
Congratulations for a successful holding of the MAONCA town fiesta celebration. If not for my trip to Boston, I would have considered attending your event. En Grande!
Djoma
Posted by: Djoma | March 15, 2007 at 06:42 AM