ILOILO City – Manggahan Festival of the province of Guimaras is having a sweet – albeit short and safe – comeback this May.
Unlike last year, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) won’t be able to stop the Guimaras provincial government from paying tribute to the island’s main export – sweet mangoes.
Manggahan Festival is a yearly month-long (every May) socio-cultural celebration of Guimaras’ culture, traditions and economy anchored on one of its most successful industries – mango cultivation.
The year’s highlight would be the 29th founding anniversary of Guimaras on May 22, according to Liberty Ferrer, co-chairperson of the Manggahan Task Force and Working Committees.
The main day will kick off with a Holy Mass followed by a simple program. Gov. Samuel Gumarin will deliver his State of the Province Address (SOPA) in the afternoon.
Slated May 20 to 22 this year, the 28th Manggahan Festival has the theme “E-Manggahan: Enjoy, Engage and Experience Manggahan.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the yearly month-long Manggahan lured an average of 60,000 to 90,000 tourists.
‘CAN’T EAT-ALL-YOU-CAN’
The provincial government decided to scrap Manggahan’s mango eat-all-you-can that has been the celebration’s banner activity. But the “Agri Trade Fair” will push through where local tourists can still enjoy the mango galore and other Guimarasnon products.
While it had the desire to push through with the “eat fest”, public health takes precedence.
Enforcing social distancing may be hard especially now that COVID-19 cases in the region are rising, Ferrer told Panay News.
“But nevertheless matilawan man sa gihapon sang pumoluyo ang paho kay on display man sia,” she added.
The Agri Trade Fair will be on the Guimaras provincial capitol grounds during the celebration’s entire duration.
‘SAFE-FEST’
How would the provincial government ensure a safe fest?
As to the three-day fair, Ferrer said there would be a “one entrance, one exit” policy and hand washing areas in select posts.
Signage reminding the public of minimum health protocols would also be installed in strategic areas.
The provincial government will require health declaration forms for contact tracing purposes.
Personnel from the General Services Office are also looking into the capacity of the capitol grounds as it would limit the number of guests.
Unlike in the past where festival activities were piling up even from the first week of May, this year’s would be a limited one.
“Siempre with consideration sa mga protocols wala kita mga mass gathering gid nga event. So, ang aton lang nga activities ang puede ma-control (number of people),” Ferrer added.
The official is also encouraging the public to join their celebration via the official Facebook page of the provincial government. Videos of the past year’s colorful performances and other events will be uploaded there.
There would also be non-contact activities such as biking, motorcycle ride, chess, and badminton.
As of this writing, Guimaras had 382 total confirmed COVID-19 cases – 12 active, 362 recovered and eight deaths.
In Western Visayas, the province Guimaras has the lowest number of reported infections./PN
