2 weeks ago
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ILOILO CITY — Thirteen tons (around 11,000 kilos) of sweet mangoes await tourists and visitors in the 10-day 2025 Manggahan (Mango) Festival which kicked off in Guimaras on Friday.
GUIMARAS CALLING In an artful display, a vendor showcases yet-to-be ripened mangoes, meticulously arranged to attract tourists and buyers during the Manggahan Festival last year. PHOTO BY RJAY ZURIAGA CASTOR
Organizers aim to surpass last year's nearly 63,000 guests with mango-inspired food and delicacies, and a series of events until May 25.
Among the highlights of the fair is the mango-eat-all-you-can, where visitors can feast on the sweetest mangoes in 30 minutes for a minimal fee of P100.
Last year, a visitor from Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States bested 9,500 others by consuming 25 pieces of mango in 30 minutes.
Other events are the music festival, which is always the most-attended activity; cultural and street dance competition, where the five municipalities of Guimaras will showcase their cultures and traditions through dance and music; sports events; agri-fishery fair; Mr. and Miss Guimaras beauty pageants; Kabataan (Youth) Day; government services fair; Farmers and Fisherfolk Day; and the Provincehood Night.
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"We're showcasing the sweetest mango, renowned world over. Since last year, we've not just been pushing the mango but as well as other produce that Guimaras can offer. I think this is a more expanded Manggahan Festival in comparison with last year. We're hoping that we can duplicate the success that we had last year," Gov. JC Rahman Nava said in a press con-ference Friday.
Last year, the festival generated over P311.87 million, including the P84.47-million tourism revenues, P106.18 million from the music festival, P54.43 million from the accommodation sector, P1.78 million from the transport sector, P26.34 million from the agri-eco trade fair and P5.04 million in retail activities.
Guimaras Rep. Lucille Nava, in her message during the opening program, said that last year's Manggahan "boosted re-markably the local tourism and economic activity of this province."
"The economic effects extended across various sectors. This year, we optimistically anticipate an even more exciting, fun-filled, innovative and sustainable festival. Manggahan 2025 aims to blend tradition with modernity, introducing immersive experience, technology-driven exhibits and initiatives that would empower the farmers, fisherfolk and women entrepreneurs," she said.
