Allen M. Villa
PIA
April 9, 2011

IBA, Zambales, April 8 (PIA)—“Iba ang tamis ng mangga ng Zambales!” (Zambales mangoes have a distinct sweetness!)

These were the words that came straight from Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as he graced the opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the Zambales Mango Festival held at the Provincial Capitol Plaza yesterday.

Expressing his delight for the province’s pride, Sen. Pangilinan says he may one day encourage her two daughters, Frankie and Miel, to serve as endorsers of the fruit in the province’s quest to boost its fruit export industry.

“Napakahilig sa mangga ng mga anak namin ni Sharon (Cuneta). Kahit nasaan kami naghahanap sila ng mangga. Kahit nasa abroad mango juice pa din ang hinahanap,” the Senator went on to say. (Our children are fond of mangoes. Everywhere we go they ask for mangoes. Even if we are abroad they still ask for mango juice.)

Sen. Pangilinan added that research reinforced his belief that the pride of the province is the sweetest as he found out that in 1995, the Guinness Book of World Records confirmed that Zambales Mangoes are indeed the sweetest.

Joining the Senator during the opening ceremony were Department of Tourism Region 3 Director Ronaldo Tiotuico, PhilHealth Region 3 Vice President Rodolfo Balog, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zambales Provincial Director Elenita Ordonio.

They were received by Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain II.

RD Tiotuico, in a brief message, said that the Tourism department has already included the Zambales Mango Festival in the year-round calendar of tourism events in the country aligned with the biggest events such as the Ati-Atihan Festival of Iloilo and the Sinulog Festival of Cebu.

“We may one day see throngs of tourists visiting this province by making this yearly festival at par with its counterparts,” Tiotuico said.

The annual spectacle is a joint program of the Zambales Mango Development Council and the provincial government to boost the mango industry of the province.

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