Saturday, February 28, 2009
By Francesca Ishbel A. Garcia
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Mayor Artemio Galwan proudly launched the 2009 Strawberry Festival, with the theme: "Sustaining Our Gains and Looking Beyond."
The festival is a joint project of the local government, Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Galwan said the festival will start on March 8, strategically following the Panagbenga Festival of Baguio City.
Valentine's 2009 blog
The DA adopted the One Town One Product (Otop) campaign with strawberries as the municipality's primary product, which would put more effort and support for the people and the industry.
The calendar of activities for the month-long celebration was presented, including an Agro Trade Fair "Tiangge and Sari Sari" which would be in operation from March 8 to 23 and open to all interested entrepreneurs.
In coordination with the DA, various strawberry related activities are in line, consisting of Strawberry Farm Tours and Berry Picking, which is open for schedule in coordination with the Benguet State University.
In addition to the events and as a proper precautionary measure for the tourist and visitors to the festival, La Trinidad scheduled a launch of the Otop seal in order to protect the public from fake or disguising as original products of the town.
The distribution of the Otop seal will automatically exemplify the quality and the originality of the product.
The distribution will follow the launch on March 10.
The main program will be on March 18, which would include a Civic and Float Parade followed by a 2009 Cultural Presentation or "Owik" that would end in an extravagant presentation of fireworks.
The much-awaited commemorative search for Ms. Strawberry Festival and Mr. La Trinidad would be on March 22 to 23 which would eventually end the festival.
The 2009 Strawberry Festival calendar of activities are filled with a variety of competitions, contests and presentation which would significantly flourish the campaign of La Trinidad Benguet to be the Strawberry Capital of the Philippines.
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