Manggahan Festival
It is advisable to visit Guimaras during the Manggahan
Festival - festival
of mangoes. Mangoes and other produce of Guimaras such as dried mangoes, mango
ketchup and more are all in sale at a cheaper price at the main trading center.
There are also hand-made and indigenous products that are exhibited in the
plaza.
As thousands of tourists including local tourists clustered
to Manggahan Festival at Guimaras Islands is a great sign that the island had
recovered from the worst oil spill disaster in the country. Last year
production of mangoes rises to around 8.7 metric tons after a two year decline
(2008 to 2010) due to extreme climate change. This year’s production is
estimated to increase around 10.8 metric tons as reported.
It has been claimed that the
sweetest mangoes in the world can be found in Guimaras. True enough this
province has been exporting mangoes and by-products to different parts of the
world. Some experts said that mangoes in Guimaras are
sweet as a result of its naturally cultivated type of land very suitable for
mango farming. As a precautionary measure the local government of
Guimaras prohibits the entries of mangoes from outside the province to itsterritories to
avoid cross breeding into their own seedlings.
The mango
eat-all-you-can feast is the main highlight of the annual festival to mark the
province founding anniversary. An estimate of 9 tons of mangoes was dishes out
this year Guimaras festival. Visitors are charge with a fee of 70 pesos or 1.65
dollar equivalent for ripe mangoes and 40 pesos or less than a dollar for green
mangoes with shrimp paste. Guest can eat as many mangoes they could in 30
minutes. The management of the festival imposed a time limit to accommodate
more visitors to join the feast.
The festival is also highlighted by street
dancing procession and cultural presentation, a technology fair, painting and
drawing competition.
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