JORDAN, Guimaras – The festival featuring the country’s sweetest mangoes kicked off on Friday.
Now on its 25th year, the Manggahan Festival has improved, according to Gov. Samuel Gumarin.
Gumarin said their preparations for the festival leveled up as they also cater to increased tourist arrivals following Boracay’s closure.
Themed “Bugana: Celebrating the Silver Glory of Maggahan Festival,” the 12-day celebration is jam-packed with activities like the mango-eat-all-you-can event.
For shelling out P120, revelers can enjoy eating green and ripe mangoes for 30 minutes during the festival.
Provincial Agriculturist Ronnie Morante said they have prepared some 16.1 metric tons of mangoes for the eat-all-you-can event, higher compared than the 9.5 metric tons last year.
Manggahan’s opening also highlighted the Agri-Trade and Tourism Fair, where producers and entrepreneurs gathered to showcase their best products.
The exhibit featured mango showpieces and other products of the island province.
The festival’s invitational cultural presentation would also gather representatives from four other festivals – Iloilo City’s Dinagyang Festival, Bacolod City’s Masskara Festival, Passi City’s Pintados de Passi Festival, and Tabuk, Kalinga’s Matagoan Festival.
There will also be the 1st Rakrakan sa Manggahan Battle of the Bands, the motocross for international and national riders, and the Manggahan bike fest and painting contest, among others.
The festival will end on May 22, marking the 26th founding anniversary of the province of Guimaras. (With PNA/PN)
