TUBA, Benguet – The municipal government recently lined up a number of activities to celebrate this year’s Ava Festival on September 19-20, 2024 to aggressively promote the town’s product for the benefit of the farmers and help in boosting the local tourism industry.
Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan said that the theme of this year’s festivities is ‘Ava: Cultivating a New Era’ that will definitely contribute in spurring growth and development for the benefit of the concerned stakeholders. Ava is the local term for gabi or taro.
The annual celebration will fire off with the Ava Festival opening program that will be held on September 19 at the municipal grounds with the active involvement of municipal officials and concerned sectors, especially the ava farmers who are the reasons why the local government is conducting the said festivities.
Prior to the said program, there will be ribbon cutting for the mini agri-fair and the Ava Medley where five different ava-based products will be featured for free taste to both the residents and visitors who will be attending the start of the festival.
Local beauties will showcase their talents during the pre-pageant for the Search for Mr. and Ms. Tuba 2024 which will immediately be conducted after the commencement of the opening program at the municipal grounds.
One of the highlights of this year’s celebration is the presentation of the biggest ava where the judging of the product of the farmers will be held in the afternoon of the first day right at the municipal grounds where ava will be displayed for the appreciation of the public who will be joining the events.
Rep. Eric Yap, Gov. Melchor Diclas, Vice Gov. Ericson ‘Tagel’ Felipe, regional director Jovita Ganongan of the Cordillera office of the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR) and other provincial officials were invited to grace the said festivities and witness the new branding of the town’s major crowd drawing event.
On September 20, the much awaited beautifully decorated ava karts will be featured that will coincide with the conduct of the quiz bee and parlor games at the different parts of the municipal grounds.
The two-day mini Agri Fair will come to a close through a closing program with the hope that the various products that had been displayed shall have been patronized by the residents and visitors who will attend the gathering.
The Coronation Night of the Search for Mr. and Ms. Tuba will be the culminating program of this year’s celebration as it will be held at the Tuba Youth and Sports Complex located at barangay Poblacion.
Earlier, the municipal government transferred the conduct of the annual Ava Festival from December, when it was conducted simultaneous with the town’s founding anniversary celebration, to September where ava is in season and to give a chance for the farmers to market their produce and earn income from the sale of their products and other agricultural crops being grown in the municipality.
Sal-ongan extended the invitation to the public to witness this year’s staging of the Ava Festival and patronize the produce of the local Ava farmers. By Dexter A. See
