LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Barangay Wangal emerges victorious in the Strawberry Salad Vegetable Making Contest by incorporating Cordillera’s unique preserved meat, ‘Etag’ as a distinctive salad dressing.
During the inaugural community-led event, Strawberry – Vegetable making contest, Ivanric L. Cayat of barangay Wangal best his five other competitors in the said contest that was held at the King’s College of the Philippines following the formal launching of this year’s Strawberry festival celebration.
Cayat, a senior high school student at Benguet National High School, impressed the judges with his original creation titled “Strawberry and Mix Greens with Strawberry-Etag Vinaigrette.”
Cayat explained, “I shaped it into a crescent. As for the ingredients in the vinaigrette, I mixed the olive oil and ‘etag’ oil with the vinegar, along with strawberries, salt, and pepper for a well-balanced combination.
In a statement from Dolsey Wreth Sapi, the BSHM program chair and one of the main organizers of the competition, it was announced that each participant is required to present an original salad recipe featuring strawberries as the main ingredient. Contestants are expected to showcase innovation and introduce new varieties of salads, emphasizing the unique qualities of the strawberries sourced from their local region. Sapi highlighted that participants have used the locally grown sweet Charlie strawberries from Atok, Benguet.
Furthermore, Sapi mentioned that the competition winners are set to receive cash prizes, with the first-place winner awarded 2500 pesos, the second-place winner 2000 pesos, and the third-place winner 1500 pesos.
The second-place winner hails from Barangay Puguis. Ms. Sharmaine Yenisey T. Aliba impressed the judges with her original creation “Fruitful Medley.” Securing the third spot are Mr. Mark Denver A. Amistoso, presenting his Strawberries and Greens Salad with Dukto, and John Llyod F. Gala-ew, showcasing his Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Balsamic & Cordilleran rice wine, representing Barangay Pico and Barangay Ambiong, respectively.
Six competitors Barangay Ambiong, Balili, Pico, Puguis, Poblacion, and Wangal participated in the strawberry salad competition at King’s College of the Philippines on March 4th, which was organized in collaboration with their local municipality. Featuring “Vegetarian Salad Live: Individual” as the main theme for the Strawberry Salad Competition. By Joy Anne M. Palaoag
