LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The various winners in the different competitions that were lined up by organizers for the month-long Strawbery Festival got a sigh of relief after their prizes and awards were formally given to them during the closing and awarding ceremonies of the crowd drawing event held recently at the municipal gymnasium here.
The event was happily celebrated and attended by the local visitors where they witnessed the awarding of deserving winners in different kinds of competitions during the Strawberry Festival.
The awardees were from the Agro-Industrial Trade fair and Best barangay booth, Cleanest and Greenest barangays and schools, Battle of the bands, Strawberry Fun Run, Sweetest and Biggest Strawberry Fruit, Street dancing; Mini-Float parade; Drum & Lyre Competition, Strawberry Baking & Pastries competition, Flower Arrangement contest, La Trinidad dog show, Dart wars and the most awaited event the Search for Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad.
Way back 2004 the municipality is known for its strawberry plantations earning the town the title “Strawberry Capital of the Philippines”. The town currently holds the Guinness World Record for baking the world’s largest strawberry shortcake in March 20, 2004.
The festival is held annually from the third week of March to the first week of April. Showcasing La Trinidad’s strawberries and strawberry products, the town celebrates a long feast with parades, trade fairs, sports leagues, contests and many other fun activities. Of course, there is the Grand Cañao – a festival of thanksgiving for the health of community.
During the administration of Honorable Edna C. Tabanda, the first lady mayor of the city, the name of the town fiesta was transformed into La Trinidad: Panaspulan which meant cultural gathering. It aimed to boost the municipality’s tourism industry and to attract local and foreign tourists. Part of the festival activities included the promotion of the municipality’s main agricultural products through the Strawberry and Cutflower Festivals. It was in the middle of the 1900s that La Trinidad earned the moniker, Rose Capital of the Philippines.
By JASON DE GUZMAN