Mango festival about seminars, not dances

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Tourism Commission and the Department of Tourism-7 will be coordinating with the Wetland Resorts to promote the Mango Festival.

Cinbeth Orellano, CCTC executive director, said that they plan to conduct this unique festival that will not showcase dances but workshops instead.

Orellano added that the workshops will include how to take care of mangoes, how to grow mangoes well in order for it to bear more fruit, as well as feature different recipes that have mango as the main ingredient.

CCTC and DOT already had an ocular inspection at the Wetland Resorts since they found out that mangoes can be harvested in the place regardless of the season.

The festival may take place before the year ends or early next year.

CCTC is also showcasing the beautiful agricultural scenery in the mountain barangays of the city in its new tourism program called the Hilly Land Tour.

The featured barangays include Babag, Adlaon, Taptap, Cantipla, Sudlon I and Sudlon II.

Aside from CCTC, it is in cooperation with Cebu City Historical and Affairs Commission and the City Agriculture Department in coordination with the Cebu Association of Tour Guides.

Orellano said this is a unique tour because the tourist will be able to appreciate the agricultural products offered by the featured barangays.

She added that they made this kind of tour for a change because many tourists are already familiar with the different tourist spots here.

Orellano explained that in Babag the tourists will be taught about cut flowers in a big flower farm, while in Adlawon they will experience picking sweet corn, pay for their harvest at a lower price and bring the crops home.

In Sudlon II, they will see lettuce on the rocks and the Moncado Colony. They will be able to visit the CAD Nursery in Taptap and the Cantipla Integrated School.

An agricultural tramline will be featured in Sudlon 1, where a motorized cable car transports the vegetables harvested by the farmers to Tabunan and other barangays.

Orellano said residents of the mentioned barangays are happy and excited about the tour as this will not only highlight their barangays, but will also give them the opportunity to earn.     - THE FREEMAN