Anthony Bayrong
Manila Times
April 11, 2011

IBA, Zambales: Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Chairman of the Senate committee on Agriculture and food urge local mango growers in Zambales to produce more mangos for export to other countries, citing Zambales mango as “one of the sweetest mango in the world.

Pangilinan who was the guest of honor during the four day mango festival added that the global market demand for these products continues to surge.

“In the same way, the Zambales Mango Festival could also be a national landmark festival because of the popularity of your native mangoes,” Pangilinan added.

The four-day revelry began with a blare of drums and gongs as festival participants decked in mango-themed outfits joined a colorful parade that snaked its way in the streets of this capital town before ending at the Capitol grounds where the opening rites were held.

Besides the trade fair that showcased the best mango products in the province, the festival also featured various dance and sports competitions, fun games, an art exhibit, and the finals for the Ginoo at Binibining Zambales pageant.

Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. meanwhile added that the province should no longer compete with other provinces.

“What the province need to do is develop a way to increase the shelf life of our sweet mango so that we can sell them even to distant places like Europe.” He added.

According to Central Luzon trade and industry director Ronaldo Tiotuico, the Zambales Mango Festival is now among the Philippine festivals listed in the national calendar of events.

Tiotuico also cited Ebdane for continuing with the vision of the Mango Festival to promote the popular mango fruit and boost tourism in Zambales.

The locally grown carabao mango (Magnifera indica) has been listed in the 1995 Guinness Book of World Records as the sweetest in the world, on top of other tropical mangoes grown in other countries.

In particular, the Sweet Elena variety, which originated in Sta. Cruz, Zambales was identified by the Bureau of Plant Industry as the “sweetest of the sweetest” among the 10 local strains registered and recommended by the National Seed Industry Council.

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