The Manggahan sa Guimaras Festival is an annual celebration of Guimarasnons’ pride in their history, culture and their prized product, the mango. Guimaras has been making itself known through this tourism event that continues to draw the attention of thousands of visitors throughout the country.
Mark Segador, in his blog, iloiloilove.com, describes in amazing detail in words and pictures how this year's Manggahan Festival proceeded. This year’s Guimaras Festival featured a colorful array of Agri-Cultural activities. The week-long celebration has various events including the Eat All You Can Mangoes at the Capitol Grounds, the Cultural Tribes Competition at Museo de Guimaras open field, and Fireworks display in the evening.
To show the world that there is more to Guimaras than its sweet mangoes, Manggahan Festival is also a showcase of the rich and well-preserved cultural and historical heritage of the province. There are myths and legends portrayed in a cultural showcase, street dancing and SINADYA merrymaking. The goal is to promote its products, services and milestones in agri–trade fair/exhibits, food festival, special events, nightly shows and entertainment and the Search for Mutya Ng Guimaras.
The trade/fair exhibit displays lots of mangoes and other Guimaras products. You can buy mangoes at very reasonable prices. You can also buy mango delicacies like jams, mango barquillos, dried mangoes, and mango shakes. The exhibit brings out the creativity of Guimarasnons through handmade products, accessories, and house decors.
During the Mutya sa Guimaras Search, one is witness to the ladies of Guimaras, a showcase not only of beauty, but also of intelligence, talent, and deep-rooted love for culture.
The Cultural CBRT (Community-Based Rural Tourism) Competition is one of the highlights of the Manggahan Festival. Hubons or contingents across the island competed in front of Museo Guimaras to showcase, not only their talents, but the rich cultural tradition of the province. The hubons depict the importance of protecting the marine biodiversity of the province, its recovery from the oil spill, the tourism potential of Guimaras and much more.
Guimaras Mango Eat-All-You-Can
Experience Manggahan sa Guimaras Festival
Truly, the Manggahan sa Guimaras is a festival to experience, a festival where you can taste and buy delicious and sweet mangoes. You can also shop for souvenirs and mangoes-inspired products. The colorful festival is also one of the best subjects to capture where the smiling and laughing crowd and is always worth your shot. And at the end of your day there is a blazing fireworks display that will surely lift up your spirits.
This festival expresses the Guimarasnons' colorful way of life. Beautiful street decorations, lovely costumes, and a lot of mangoes – yellow or green, big or small, sweet or sour – are all there to make your day.
How to get there
There is no direct flight to Guimaras from Manila. It can be reached via Ilo-ilo city. The city can be reached via Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Philippines from Manila. From Iloilo city, you need to ride a taxi going to Ortiz Wharf. From there, you'll need to take a 15-minute pump boat ride going to Guimaras.