Strawberry fest winners bared; giant cake, culture day featured

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Winners in different events of the ongoing Strawberry Festival here were announced even as a giant strawberry cake was partaken of by local folks while a cultural day was held among other events.

In drum and lyre competition, first place was Lubas Elementary school, second, San Jose Elementary School and Balili Elementary School, third.

For street dancing, winners were Barangay Tawang in first place, Barangay Ambiong was second while Barangay Shilan was third

This, as the 36th strawberry short cake was given away to local folks who patiently waited during its distribution as one of highlights of the festival at the town hall.

Mayor Romeo K. Salda said the cake was just three fourths of the municipal government’s giant strawberry cake which earned a Guinness World Book of Record in 2004 known as world's largest strawberry cake.

The 2017 giant strawberry cake earned over 300,000 pesos to its   16,000 slices which was sold at P20 per slice.

This year’s strawberry cake had a height of 8 feet and 12-feet wide.

Earlier, ethnic groups, association and schools joined cultural program as part of the 36th strawberry festival.

Different delegation witnessed the traditional owik (butchering of native pigs).

The event was led by the La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda with his wife who did traditional dance tayao followed by the other officials of the said city with their partners.

Salda said the culture of the Cordilleran’s is very intact. In fact, despite the differences of cultural dances, there is still unity.

The groups that joined the said program were Bell Church Village who performed the dragon dance followed by the LTMEA Cultural dance troupe with their cordilleran dances.

Another was the La Trinidad Central School who presented Dayang dayang while the Kabenguetan Ladies with their Line Dance. Lastly, the Benguet State University- CCA ended the program with their gangsa presentation.

Officials said the program shows the rich culture of Benguet Province.

Agriculture Undersecretary Evelyn G. Laviña was guest of honor and speaker during the main program at municipal gym.

She urged those present to help boost the vegetable industry which is the main livelihood of Benguet.Laviña said agriculture in Benguet is not only the responsibility of local officials such of Dept. of Agriculture but should be the responsibility of everyone. -- Fely Guanzo, Aleja Joy Sison and Nikki Charongen ansd Karen Valle Copa