ZAMBALES MANGO FESTIVAL

IBA, Zambales — Perfectly timed with the mango picking season in the province, the provincial government again hosted the Zambales Mango Festival on April 20 to 22 at this capital town’s sprawling Zambales Sports Complex.

As announced by Tel Mora, head of the Zambales Tourism and Investment Promotions Office,the three-day event was highlighted by the much-awaited mango-themed street dancing competition, which drew participants from community groups, schools and local government units all over the province.

The province’s 13 municipalities also twent all-out to outshine each other in the “Pinaka LGU showcase,” with exhibits of their respective town’s best products.

For the first time, the Mango Festival also featured a float competition with entries from the local government units and agencies, schools, and socio-civic organizations. Zambales’ fleshy and tarty carabao mango is one reason that the province has been touted to have the best mango in the world.

In 1995, the World Guinness Book of Record recognized Zambales as producer of the sweetest mango in the world, particularly, the Sweet Elena (Mangifera indica) variety in Sta. Cruz town believed to be descended from a 108-year-old mother tree at a mango orchard in Sabangvillage.

Visitors were able to sample these luscious fruits during the trade fair at the festival grounds. Other activities in the three-day event included mango-eating challenges, “Pinaka” mangoexhibit, T-shirt design exhibit, mango photo exhibits, and a trade fair.

There was also entertainment after dusk with shows like the Invitational Dance CrewCompetition on April 20; “Banda at Komedya,” featuring the rock band Kamikazee and stand- up comic Ate Gay, on April 21; and the variety show “Zamba Summer Saya!” that concluded the estival in the evening of April 22.

On orders of Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., organizers gave away bigger cash prizes as encouragement to the participants to have high-level presentations in the different competitions.