GUIMARAS – The festival showcasing the sweet mangoes of Guimaras kicked off on Saturday, April 29.
Now on its 30th year, Manggahan Festival is having a sweet comeback after being on hiatus for two years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
The month-long festivities kicked off with an “Imbukada” through a grand caravan, with delegates from the five municipalities of the province converging at the provincial capitol grounds.
“Imbukada” also highlighted the opening of the Agri-Fishery Eco-Tourism Expo participated by 79 local producers and entrepreneurs.
Gov. JC Rahman A. Nava, Cong. Ma. Lucille L. Nava, and Vice Gov. John Edward G. Gando, together with the five town mayors, led the ribbon-cutting of the expo.
The nine candidates for Miss Guimaras were also presented during the opening program.
Manggahan Festival events will take place every weekend to take advantage of the influx of tourists in the island every Saturday and Sunday.
The anticipated Mango-Eat-All-You-Can will return from May 19 to 22.
The Provincial Office for Agriculture Services allotted 10 tons of mangoes for the Mango-Eat-All-You-Can, where guests can feast on the fruit for P150 within 30 minutes.
Other activities for this year’s celebration are the battle of the bands, cook-off challenge, bike fest, street dance battle, job fair, color fun run with celebrity guests, folk dance competition, and dog show.
The provincial government also prepared for sports enthusiasts a water sports and jet ski showcase, jiu-jitsu, basketball, where the Philippine Basketball League will play, and a volleyball tournament.
Nightly entertainment will feature different OPM rock bands.
The celebration will culminate on May 22 in conjunction with the 31st anniversary of Guimaras becoming a province.
A Thanksgiving Mass will be offered before the provincehood anniversary program.
Five competing “hubon” from the municipalities and a non-competing group from Guimaras State University will showcase the rich culture and history of Guimaras in the Manggahan Cultural Competition.
On the last night of the festival, a fireworks display will be held at the capitol grounds, followed by performances by two big OPM rock bands: Rivermaya and Mayonnaise. (Public Information and Relations Guimaras)/PN
