The provincial government of Zambales is all set for its annual 'Mango Festival', highlighted by a one-week activity to showcase the province's top product - mango.
Mango from the province of Zambales has been tagged as one of the sweetest in the world.
Tel Mora of the Provincial Tourism and Investment Promotion Office said this year’s festival will be the "most eventful" with "must-see" activities set on March 19-24.
More than 5, 000 tourists and visitors are expected to arrive during the festival which will feature talents from 13 towns that prepared for "Parayawan"--or the dressing of their facade with a "mango theme".
The first day of celebration will feature "PINAKA LGU Booth Showcase", which will highlight the best in different municipalities; trade fair and exhibits will also be opened to offer the province's mango and the fruit's processed products such as dried mangoes, mango wines, mango tart, mango jam, mango candies, besides other souvenir items.
The festival lines up activities such as National Mango Congress, street and civic parade, float competitions, street dancing competitions, and cultural presentations, mango carving competitions and the "PINAKA Competition."
Other activities also include Ms. Zambalena Senior Citizen Coronation Night, search for Mango Master Chef and Mango Wine Mixing and Bartending Competition.
The Grand Parade will be held on March 23 together with Street Dance Competition.
Capping off the Mango Festival on March 24 is the sand sculpting competition and Mango Olympics in the beaches of the province, inter-town drum and lyre competition in the morning followed by performances of "ZAMBA Summer Saya Variety Show" in the evening.
Province officials, led by Gov. Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., are hoping that the festival will evolve to become a national event such as the Panagbenga of Baguio and the Ati-Atihan of Iloilo and Sinulog of Cebu. - Anthony Bayarong