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.”
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