LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A staggering ten-by-seven-foot giant strawberry kayabang cake towered over spectators at the Strawberry Cake Fest held at La Trinidad Municipal Gym.
The cake yielded 16,000 slices – 1,000 of which were given for free while the remaining 15,000 slices were sold for 35 pesos each.
A local bakery, assisted by a team of 20 bakers, baked the 500 pans required for the event. A month was spent gathering all the necessary raw materials, and three days was allotted for baking and assembling the cake. Slight improvements in the recipe were also made to improve texture and flavor. “Narigat ta dakkel gamin diyay cake, ngem inkarkarigatan mi met nga maaramid, maihabol tatta nga aldaw,” said Nicolo Espadero, a baker at Valley Bread.
Mayor Romeo Salda elaborated on the symbolic aspects of the said dessert. “The cake’s pearly white, vibrant red and earthy brown [speak] of our land’s bounty and our enduring spirit. The kayabang, leaden with the promise of harvest, and the cascading strawberries [symbolize] nature’s generosity. They are a reflection of our resilience and progress that define our beloved La Trinidad.”
The annual cake-baking and slicing put emphasis on the strawberry as the municipality’s key local produce. La Trinidad’s legacy of holding the Guinness World Record for baking the biggest strawberry shortcake back in 2004 further strengthened the event’s significance.
Mayor Salda expressed high hopes for the production of another Twin Giant Strawberry Cake next year, featuring the municipality’s Snow-White strawberry variety.
This year’s giant strawberry kayabang cake, which was first previewed in last year’s Strawberry Cake Fest, has now become the centerpiece for this year’s celebration. By Aiyra Marzan
