La Trinidad sets March Strawberry fest various events

By Gelinie Jen Ulban and Pamela Mariz Geminiano

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – This valley town is set to showcase their world-record giant strawberry short cake to highlight the Strawberry Festival from March 4 to 29, Mayor Romeo Salda said on Wednesday.

Themed “La Trinidad: My home … my pride,” a variety of events will spice up the town, said Valred Olsim, municipal tourism officer as activities have already been finalized.

Mayor Salda, Vice Mayor Joey Marrero and members of the town council kicked off the event with a press conference at the municipal park on Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Officials said ecumenical mass will be on March 4 at the municipal gym while arts and mural competition will be on the 6th and 7th at the municipal park.

The most awaited yearly strawberry lane will be set up March 4 until March 30 at the municipal park accompanied by “concert in the park” on March 9 and March 17.

Jobs fair was set on the 8th at the municipal gym, while the “biggest and sweetest strawberry” will be presented on the 8th at municipal park simultaneous with flower arrangement contest, the duting tan dukto and fun run on the 9th at the municipal grounds.

Mass wedding will be held on the 13th at the municipal gym, while the battle of the bands will be on the 15th at the municipal gym.

Dog show will be staged on the 16th at the municipal grounds, while the dongba ni kabajo is set on the 16th and 17th at the Wangal grounds or the Benguet State Complex.

Acoustic band competition will be on the 17th still at Waangal grounds. Civic parade will be on the 18th from km 6 to the municipal grounds where the owik (traditional butchering of pig) will be done.

On the 18th, the main program for the Strawberry Festival will be held at the municipal gym with the kekkan (partaking of food) where the main program will be held.

The drum and lyre, street dancing and float parade was set on the 23rd from km.6 to the municipal grounds.

Presentation of the giant strawberry cake will be held at the Lednicky hall on the 23rd while the search for Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad will held at the municipal gym.

The Strawberry Festival will be capped off with wine fair, closing program and Barangay and Homecoming Night.

During the press conference, Salda said the giant strawberry cake will be a replica of the 2004 cake that gave the town the Guinness World Record for the biggest strawberry shortcake. The cake weighed 9,622.24 kilograms and was served to more than 10,000 persons.

Salda said the festival aims to showcase the strawberry as the valley's One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) and to foster and rekindle ties between locals and tourists alike.

"This is also an avenue to promote, not only La Trinidad Strawberries but also the town's many other products which are derivatives of the berry while celebrating the town's cultural diversity and richness," he said.

The same cake design was repeatedly showcased with a smaller version following the record. It was last featured in the 2017 festival.

This year’s cake will have the same measurement as that served in 2017.

"We will replicate what we have showcased last 2017, and the cake-making will be led by chef Eric Espadero of Valley Bread, the biggest supplier of quality loaf bread in Baguio and Benguet," said Councilor Estrella Adeban, committee chairman for the giant strawberry cake event.

In 2018, Adeban said several bakeshops were asked to make strawberry cakes with Espadero being selected to bake the cake replica.

“The municipal government wants Eric Espadero to manage the baking of the cake for this year to maintain the original taste of the cake,” Adeban said.

She said the giant strawberry cake to be served on March 23 will measure 1.5 meters high by 1.8 meters wide by 2.5 meters long, and weighing 2.5 tons.

It will be made of 500 pans which when sliced will make 16,000 slices. Each pan can be divided into 32 slices.

"The making of the cake will start a day before the event, assuring a freshly baked cake to be served to the public,” Adeban said.

Based on the list provided, the cake will be made using 225 kilos of butter, 275 kilos of fresh strawberries, 325 kilos sugar, 225 kilos fresh eggs, 175 kilos milk, 425 kilos of all-purpose flour, 2.5 kilos of baking powder, five kilos baking soda, 7.5 kilos of vinegar, 15 kilos of strawberry favor, 500 kilos whip cream, and 10 kilos of food coloring.

The total cost for the ingredients is P500,000.

Adeban said the slicing will start at 11 a.m. at the Lednicky hall at the municipal building.

During the event, the first 50 slices will be given free and the succeeding slices will be sold at P20 per slice to allow the organizers to recoup the expenses, which will not be taken from public funds.

Adeban said the extra proceeds will be used to fund other activities of the festival.  PNA)