SABLAN, Benguet – The municipal government recently launched the month-long celebration of the 10th edition of its annual Fruit festival to sustain the aggressive promotion of the locality as the province’s food basket.
Mayor Alfredo Dacumos, Jr. said that this year’s theme is ‘Fruit Basket: Journey Through A Decade of Shared Vision, Cooperation and Sweet Success.’
The celebration was formally launched last August 5, 2024 with the opening of the commercial category of the agri-trade fair that will run until August 30, 2024 along the Baguio-Bauang road fronting a famous restaurant.
The festivities was followed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Olympics last August 6, 2024.
On August 14, 2024, the Mayor Dacumos Knockout Challenge mixed martial arts competition will be held at the municipal gymnasium where top mixed martial arts competitors will be showcasing their combative skills in the said competition.
Volleyball enthusiasts will be treated into a two-day Volleyball League where various men and women volleyball teams will be competing against each other on August 17-18, 2024.
Owners of dogs and cats from the different parts of the municipality can avail of spaying and neutering which will be held at the municipal gymnasium on August 22, 2024 followed by the Fruit Fest Wheel Wonders car show from August 24-25, 2024 at barangay Poblacion.
Further, individuals are invited to participate in a Farm Day Tour at sitio Bulala, Bayabas for them to see how local fruits are grown and raised.
On August 26, 2024, harvested fruits will be in display at the municipal gymnasium which will be followed by the mural painting and the traditional fun run.
On August 27, 2024, participants from the different barangays and various sectors will be joining the Fruit-based Snack Preparation and One Basket Cooking Challenge where their best dishes will be featured.
The municipal government will also be conducting a Civil Mass Wedding for unwed partners from the different barangays that will be held at the municipal gymnasium on August 28, 2024.
Farmers from the different barangays will also have a chance to participate in the Integrated Diversified Farming System Competition on August 29, 2024 followed by a poster making competition on August 30, 2024.
Music enthusiasts will have a chance to showcase their talents during the Acoustic Competition and Battle of the Bands which will be held at the municipal gymnasium on August 31, 2024.
The 10th Sablan Fruit Festival parade will be held from the weighbridge in Yagyagan up to the municipal grounds which will be followed by the main program. Ground demonstration of the participants and the inter-barangay road fair will be held right along the main highway. Free haircut will also be conducted at the municipal gymnasium, all on September 2, 2024.
On September 3, 2024, farmers will be joining the annual Farmers Congress to tackle various issues and concerns besetting the local fruit industry for the concerned stakeholders to present the proposed solutions to the said problems which will be followed by the annual bloodletting activity.
On September 4, 2024, dance enthusiasts will be showcasing their talents during the Line Dance Competition which will be followed by the awarding ceremony of the winners of the various events that will put to the close the month-long celebration.
Mayor Dacumos extended the invitation to the public to actively participate in the various activities that had been lined up by the local government for this year’s annual Fruit Festival to help in aggressively promoting the municipality as a food basket of the province.
The mayor expressed hope that there will be no devastating weather disturbances that will visit the region until the commencement of the celebration so that there will be no unnecessary delays in the conduct of the activities that had been prepared for the month-long festivities and allow the municipality to be promoted as a source of quality fruits. By Dexter A. See
