THE REVIVAL this year of Guimaras’ Manggahan Festival which celebrates the island’s world-famous sweet mangoes – after a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic – is made all the more sweeter because the province is marking its 30th or pearl foundation anniversary.
This is the “new normal Manggahan Festival”. After two years, Guimaras is holding a physical festival event. The Manggahan Agri-Trade Fair has resumed, and so is the exciting Mango-Eat-All-You-Can.
Most of the festival highlights are on May 20, 21, and 22, along with the celebration of the pearl anniversary of the province.
The Manggahan Agri-Trade Fair and the Mango-Eat-All-You-Can events actually opened on May 14. But yes, due to the pandemic, festival activities are a combination of physical and virtual events for the safety of everyone.
The agri-trade fair, which aims to support the economic recovery of the province’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), is being held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Jordan town and participated in by 50 exhibitors from various sectors like the agri-business, processed fruits and nuts, and the wearables and homestyle. This will run until May 22, 2022.
Oh yes, the fair also includes more or less 20 metric tons of mangos being sold in various stalls.
Certainly, Guimaras is gradually gaining its momentum and bouncing back in terms of small and medium industries from the recession it experienced from the effects of the pandemic and a recent typhoon disaster, especially in mango production.
Proof?
For the Mango-Eat-All-You-Can alone, this year’s sweet mango allocation is around 10 metric tons! The event area, which is also on the capitol grounds, can accommodate 100 persons per batch for 30 minutes.
Here’s a trivia: Did you know that – based on past eat-all-you-can activities – each individual can consume more or less two and a half kilos of mango on average within the 30-minute period? Amazing!
But please observe the following safety rules in the eat-all-you-can activities:
* Facemask must be worn at all times and can only be removed when eating.
* Observe physical distancing at all times.
* Registration fee is P100 per participant.
* Only 30 minutes is allocated per participant.
* Eating shall be bare hands. If the participant opts to use knife, spoon, etc. as an aid in eating, he/she should provide one for himself/herself.
* Strictly self-service. A participant can have his/her additional serving by disposing his/her peeling and seeds at the designated collection bins. After which he/she may get his/her additional plate at the serving table.
* No taking out of unconsumed mangoes.
Other activities lined up for the Manggahan Festival 2022 include the bike fun ride, a cultural showcase entitled “Panakayon” (Journey), e-games, a jobs fair, entertainment bands, and more.
FOR MAY 22
* Guimaras Pearl Anniversary Celebration on Capitol Ground and Guimaras Manggahan Festival Facebook Page
* Butlak Guimaras Specials on Manggahan Festival Facebook Page
* Fireworks Display on Capitol Ground
* Kreonz Band at Capitol Ground
FOR MAY 21
* Manggahan Bike Fun Ride (provincewide)
* Boating: Continuing to Discover the Sweet and Beautiful Guimarasnon Culture on Guimaras Manggahan Festival Facebook Page
* Acoustics at Capitol Ground
* Nightshift Band at Capitol Ground
FOR MAY 20
* Manggahan Motour Fun Ride (provincewide)
* Race Games at Capitol Ground
* Job Fair on May 20 at Provincial Capitol Gym
* Butlak Guimaras Special on Guimaras Manggahan Festival Facebook Page
* Mobile Legends Tournament
* Showcase of Vlog Making Contest Entries on Guimaras Manggahan Festival Facebook Page
* Seed Band at Capitol Ground
* Reo Brothers at Capitol Ground/PN
