Mango Festival

Mangoes from Guimaras may have gained recognition, but the province of Zambales is still known to many as the home of the sweetest mangoes in the country. It’s only fitting that they get to celebrate the Mango Festival in honor of their province’s best product.

 

MANGOES EVERYWHERE. The Mango Festival is all about the province’s best mangoes, so why not a mango-themed Street Dancing competition? (Photo courtesy of The Standard)

 

The Zambales Mango Festival, known to locals as the Dinamulag Festival, is usually on the third Tuesday of April, though it’s also been held during the month of March. It’s done to put the spotlight on the “dinamulag” mango, one of the country’s sweetest mangoes. This year, it was celebrated just before Lent, from March 17-19.

 

THE MASCOT is, of course, a mango. (Photo courtesy of MLH Photography via Wikipedia)

The festival is highlighted by the grand parade, which features a street dancing competition as well as a parade of floats. Another highlight is the annual search for Binibinig Zambales, where the province’s most beautiful women compete to become the province’s ambassadress of goodwill and tourism.

Other events you should look forward to are the Trade Fair and Variety Show. The trade fair showcases each town’s best products and tourist spots. The variety show gives people Zambales’ best and brightest talents.

Zambales is about 4-5 hours away from Metro Manila, and is famed for its beaches and, of course, their mangoes. The best way of getting there is to take a bus via Victory Liner from Caloocan, Cubao, or Pasay. Fares are usually from P350 to P380 per person.

 

Source: Choose Philippines, Doon Po Sa Amin, Philstar.com, Visit My Philippines