Visual and Tactile Indulgence at the Guimaras Manggahan Festival

Festivities give us a feel of ecstasy even as we are one of those who help prepare for them. Anticipation has a way of overriding exhaustion from work, a psychological thing, a happy pill. And that’s exactly how it was in the duration of the Manggahan Festival in Guimaras when errand works here and there was at its toll but the idea of the big days coming had all the stress evaporating in thin air.

This year was jam-packed with fun and exciting activities all throughout the week. Two were held at the Fountain Area of Robinsons Mall Iloilo: the Manggahan sa Robinsons with exhibits of Guimaras products ranging from fresh mangoes, processed foods, handmade bags and mini-galleons, and the Casual Wear Competition of Mutya ng Guimaras sponsored by the Young Designers Guild of Iloilo.

The rest of the activities were held about the Guimaras Capitol Compound beginning with the colourful Farmer’s Parade, Float Parade and Street Dancing during the Opening Salvo where the 11 (Community-based Rural Tourism) CBRT tribes and three (3) municipal category tribes showed a peek of their upcoming performances on the last day.

Other activities that took attention were the Farmer’s Congress, Mutya ng Guimaras Talent Competition and Coronation Night conquered by the stunning Mary Rose Andaluz of the Municipality of Buenavista, Youth Day, Rico Blanco Live and Nightly Live Bands, Mango-Inspired Recipe Contest, Manggahan Eat All You Can, Job Fair and One Stop Shop, the Cultural Competition and the National Pyro-Musical Competition that colored the evening and fascinated the crowd from all over the Philippines. The top spot was awarded to DSS Fireworks from Dumaguete City for their wonderful display of colors, synchronization and symmetry.

But, a personal favourite was the Mango-inspired Recipe contest. Salvacion Enriquez, Lisa Asgar, Francisco Superio and Erma Gamarcha, owners/proprietors of established eateries in Guimaras participated. Using their very own recipes, they consumed two hours to prepare their masterpieces to four (chef) judges. Each was able to present two recipes with their own invented names. Francisco Superio’s Green and Ripe Mango with Grilled Fish bested that of Enriquez’ Stir Fried Vegetable with Mango and Guimaras Sweet Potato Mango Lumpia; Asgar’s Bared Talaba with Mango and Chocolate Mango Mousse and; Gamarcha’s Cashew Mango Custard and Cashew Mango Chicken. Superio’s other entry was Mango Float with Cashew.

Of course who could forget the Mango Eat All You can that drew crowd from all over the Philippines for three days? Families, group of friends from Tubungan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, Korea etc flocked the Agri-Trade Fair Area from 10 am to 2 pm for the opportunity to have as much of the Guimaras mangoes as their tummies can take for only 50 pesos. In the end, Esher P. Cubay of Bukidnon, Mindanao beat everyone else and last year’s record of 7 kilos with his 12 in just one hour, a feat to surpass for the next year’s participants.

Lastly, it’s not over until it’s over so they say which is only over in this case when the Cultural Competition is. Beating the heat with cold mineral drinks, sarong, caps and hats of all sizes and umbrellas, people stuck on to watch the 14 tribes from various barangays and municipalities showcasing their local culture and livelihood through dance. This started from 8 am until 2 pm, interrupted only to give way to the guest of honor, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro. CBRT Category winners were: Champion- Hubon Saranggola, 1st Runner up- Hubon Layagan, 2nd Runner up- Hubon Sibiran, 3rd Runner up- Hubon Manokan, 4th Runner up- Hubon Niyogyogan; Municipal Category winners were: Champion- Hubon Balsahan 1st Runner up- Hubon Palayag, 2nd Runner up- Hubon Sadsaran.

With the festivities now over, it’s time to pour attention to reimbursements, vouchers...paper, papers, papers. But even a mountain of post-festival to-dos is not going to stop me from saying, “It’s all worth the visual and tactile indulgences.”

The Guimaras Mango Domination

Enough about Guimaras being ‘more than just mangoes’ because this summer season, the island-province is definitely about its well-reputed sweet(est) golden fruit.

We’ve all heard about that line before that suggests we all know Guimaras for its mangoes already, that we don’t even have to talk about it. But don’t we really?

Tell me, what do you know of the Guimaras mango aside from the fact that it’s sweet? Yeah I know. It’s the sweetest. Well these mangoes have gone through a lot (teary-eyed) before reaching their fame and I’ll be glad to treat you with a bit of what I dug right from the roots. Buckle up.

Let’s start with the fact that Guimaras mangoes are sweet because Nong Andres said so, Nanay Linda said so, Toto Ben said so, I said so, she said so. Okay so many said so and that was just that then---establishment of reputation by word of mouth.

However in 1989, being a good producer of “Carabao” mango variety or Manila Super Mango, relatively isolated and home to the National Mango Research and Development Center, Guimaras was chosen to be surveyed on the presence of Mango Seed Weevil (Sternochetus mangiferiae). This was conducted by the Bureau of Plant Industry and Department of Agriculture-Provincial Unit to be evaluated by the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service. Sadly, USDA-APHIS did not agree to the recommendations of the said survey and so in 1993, APHIS with BPI-NMRDC conducted the “Comprehensive Survey of the Mango Seed Weevil in the Island of Guimaras”. Not a single specimen of Sternochetus mangiferiae was observed.

So in December 23, 1993, through Proclamation Number 314, Guimaras was declared a “Special Quarantine Zone” to prevent witting and unwitting introduction of Mango Pulp Weevil and Mango Seed Weevil from other parts of the country. And this is the big rationale to baggage inspections at any point of entry in Guimaras.

The result of this survey also marked the beginning of mango exportation (a record considered as a first in the Philippines) from Guimaras to mainland USA and Australia in 2002 after the latter also conducted its own survey in the province. Yearly, the NMRDC conducts regular monitoring of mango trees in the five municipalities to ensure the province’s status.

So, what do you know about the Guimaras mangoes aside from the fact that they’re sweet? Hm.

(sources: National Mango Research and Development Center, Provincial Office for Agricultural Services-Guimaras)

Backpackin' Extravaganza

It took me 1 hour to pack for a 3-day stay in Cebu city, 15 minutes to prepare for a stat medical mission in one of the oldest barangays in my hometown, 10 minutes for a 2-day run off Roxas City for the 2nd One Visayas event, 5 minutes to pack for an overnight emergency overtime at work. All these happened within a period of 30 days, one of my most travelled month in my personal history. Each time my backpacking experience adds over, the time I take to prepare for another one dwindles. If the Negros getaway hadn’t been cancelled, it could have broken my previous record on travel preps. Me thinks it’s because I don’t unpack after arriving home from wherever work or the need to learn takes me. My toiletries are never taken off a Ziploc plastic bag. Because of these trips, I’ve learned to keep at least two of my personal necessities: two soaps, two toothbrushes, two toothpastes, two lotions and doubled number of undies. That’s why since the first trip it has been increasingly easy to pack for travels.
The only thing I feel I always miss in my travails is a camera. My mind can only take so much inputs. It doesn’t have enough vocab to describe many things even with my magic notebook though it is advisable to keep a notebook and writing material in your things for E purposes, whether it’s in your back pocket or huge bag. Cameras nowadays are as popular as facebook whereas before it was considered a luxury for many common folks. To have a single picture in ones lifetime then was an achievement but not anymore. If one is up for record keeping etc, a camera is something one must have in hand. But then again that’s just me.
My boss, one of the most elusive of people at work because of his many work-related office disappearances brings a huge sturdy backpack wherever he goes. Even in normal days no travel days, I’d sometimes get a glimpse of his shave and toothbrush as he opens his bag to bring out a file. From him I learned one way to lighten ones load: bring only a pair of footwear that is sturdy that it can be used both for rough treks but with a form fit for Church. That’s a safe one. Usually it’s a leather sandals in his case. The idea of a Havaianas is okay but only if you’re sure you’re itinerary doesn’t go beyond malls, beaches, parks and the likes.
Depends on your pleasure, priority or purpose, worst cases differ. For busy or plainly techie people its reading from their gadgets “battery exhausted” or for sea sick others, forgetting a dose of Dizzytab thirty minutes before riding on that boat /ship. For me it’s both. Health conscious ones usually faint at the idea of leaving their 99.9% guaranteed germ-killing hand sanitizers or 70% isopropyl alcohol. Well we’re not perfect, devastating as it may be, we often forget. Just dot forget that which defines the pain or pleasure of your travel. (Advice here: Be OC about the things you cant live without. Bring two batteries and a charger and double check belongings before leaving).
Another advice came from her that popular dictum says is always right—moms. And this advice of my mom is quite cool in my opinion. According to her, if you have seven pocket as in a cargo pants, you should put money to all of them, not one missed. Why? Well you never know which pocket gets slashed by thieves lying around. Lol. But actually it’s the idea that in case you get lost (for example in a group trip) and you left your bag back at the hotel, you have some money tucked there somewhere.
New to a place? Grab a map from a bookstore or information desk or go to their Tourism Office. Have hotline numbers with you in your phone and on a piece of paper. When asking people for directions, ask at least two (apart). Want to enjoy? Ther e’s no advice for that. That depends on you. But maybe the advice take some calculated risks is passable lol.
Travelling is divine. Many people are travelers. Perhaps every human has that inner drive to move about whether from short distances or as far as their heart or budget can take them. For me, travelling even with work is something more than having all I need. It’s about leaving the usual and reaching to the unusual. It’s about enrichment. It’s about contemplation. It’s about discovery not just of things new to you but of the old that is in you, that is you.
They say that when you will have seen everything, you will be more certain of what you want. Right now, I know that travelling does good to me. In a personal note it has taught me the value of saving for something as worthwhile as this interest of mine (it’s different when you pay for your own adventures), the importance of knowing how to talk with people of different backgrounds and beliefs and most of all it has taught me freedom—of owning it and letting others have it.
My next stop, Negros for a seminar. Oh I forgot I ran out of toothpaste. Gotta go buy one now.
See ya.