Politicians grace Sibonga town fiesta

CEBU, Philippines — Sibonga town's Bonga Festival yesterday did not only highlight its bountiful farm produce but also featured national and local politicians  who may be running in the 2019 midterm elections.

Senator Cynthia Villar, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Cebu First District Representative Gerard Antony Gullas, Cebu Fist District Provincial Board Member Yolanda Daan, Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas, Tuburan Mayor Aljun Diamante, and other municipal officials graced the annual celebration.

They witnessed the town’s Bonga Festival, which serves as thanksgiving for the graces and blessings from its patron saints, Saint Philomena and Our Lady of the Pillar.

Bonga means fruit in Cebuano.

Villar, the Senate chairman on the committee on food and agriculture, said the town’s progress and bountiful harvest deserves a vibrant celebration.

“I wish more bountiful harvests to come for Sibonga through your people’s labor and favors from your patron saints,” said Villar, who is seeking re-election next year.

Aside from selling fresh produce, she said the locals can also make a living from eco-tourism sites and hospitality industry, among others.

“Just as there is really more to festivals than the usual festivities, there can be more to our farmers’ farms than the harvest of fruits or vegetable. They can also show them off as tourist destinations or attractions, they can harvest extra income from tourists, income from the restaurants where they can serve their produce, income from agricultural products in their pasalubong store, and income from homestay or the accommodation in their farm. So that’s really a bountiful harvest of income [sic],” the senator said.

Sibonga is around 50 kilometers away from Cebu City.

Villar, who authored the Farm Tourism Development Law, said the Department of Tourism recently launched a campaign dubbed as “It's More Fun in Philippine Farms” program.

The farm tourism, she said, will open up new perspectives for inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development and will revitalize the farm tourism sector.

On the other hand, Marcos said her visit to Sibonga was part of her Visayas tour. The governor just came from Maasin in Leyte with Villar.

“I have been roaming around the country,” Marcos said.

Marcos first hinted about her bid to run for senator last February 24 during Baguio City’s 23rd Panagbenga Festival.

Marcos, the daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, said that their family is already discussing plans for next year's midterm elections as her brother Bongbong's electoral protest is “taking forever and ever.”

“Bongbong is really pushing for his election protest. So, pinag-usapan sa pamilya namin  and we decided that somebody must probably run because Bongbong does not want to render his protest null and void,” the governor said.

In June 2016, defeated vice presidential candidate Bongbong filed an electoral protest to challenge the victory of Leni Robredo before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal at the Supreme Court.

Bongbong wants to nullify the election results in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Basilan where he alleged discrepancies in the votes. — KBQ (FREEMAN)