In the beginning, there were only 50 of them. “I only wanted to try Zumba,” said ex-Councilor Levin Uy, as he recalled how the group of Zumba enthusiasts recently crowding the town plaza in the evening twilight started out.

“It began in February 2016,” he said. “But it was Boss Cezar’s idea.” 

Uy was referring to then private citizen and kingmaker and now Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao. 

Their ‘Zumba Dance Party’ used to hold sessions at the Municipal Covered Court or Royal Mall. But recently, the group’s membership ballooned to almost 1,000, and obviously, they had to find a more suitable venue. 

“We are the biggest in Pangasinan so far, bigger than in Dagupan,” said Uy, who is now the LGU’s Consultant for Economic Affairs as well as the Director of Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation, Inc. “There are even outsiders, with a few participants coming from as far away as Dagupan.”

Last Halloween, they held their own ‘fright night’ and costume party called Zumba Zombie Party, complete with a parade around Poblacion.

Barring bad weather, the group holds its fitness activity at 6 pm every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the new venue. (The sked was adjusted lately to 5:30 pm-6:30 pm to accommodate the new attraction in town, the Paskuhan sa Bayambang’s animated show.) Membership is for free.

The Zumba Dance Party’s secret weapon is perhaps none other than their energetic and beauteous instructor, Rizza Mae Masiglat. A native of Malasiqui and a licensed Zumba instructor, she regularly leads the pack with her graceful arm-swaying and, hip-shaking, and sometimes lungeing and squatting, bringing everyone to better fitness and health.

Asked whether the group can still accommodate more members, Uy answered in the affirmative.

(Bayambang PIO/Media Affairs)