One of the most exciting and must-visits in La Trinidad, Benguet, is their most awaited celebration of the Strawberry Festival. The event is widely known as Strawberry Festival but is officially known as “La Trinidad: Panaspulan,” meaning “cultural gathering.”
Like the other festivities in the country, Strawberry Festival is a form of celebration and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest recognizing the potential of strawberry farming and encouraging farmers to plant the fruit, which makes Benguet as “Strawberry Capital of the Philippines.”
In 2004, the town won several tourism awards and managed to achieve a title in the Guinness World Record for baking the world’s largest strawberry cake weighing 9,622.23 kg.
If there is one thing Benguet is known for, it’s strawberries. But, of course, with the abundance of fresh strawberries, the celebration of the festival will not be as exciting without the “Strawberry Lane” − a trade fair promoting La Trinidad’s farmer’s product such as all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as strawberry products like jams, tarts, and pies.
Visitors also can enjoy strawberry picking in the strawberry farms. There is also the best harvest competition in which farmers can display their best picks for the heaviest and sweetest strawberry fruits.
Aside from strawberry products, the La Trinidad constituents are also creative in merchandise. You may be amazed by many kinds of handicrafts for souvenirs or home displays and iconic hand-woven garments in the region. You will also find different artistically recycled materials turned into bags, shoes, and other items.
Moreover, the festival includes the much-awaited “Caballero,” a musical competition showcasing the large pool of talented musicians in the Cordillera, street dance competitions, parades, and exhibits.
A part of the celebration is the massive job fair held either at the beginning or towards the end of the festival, mostly offering agriculture-related careers. And of course the joint community-led activities such as clean-up drive to the public parks, creeks and roads.
Every 3rd week of March until the 1st week of April, the traditional celebration of the Strawberry Festival is annually held, but due the current global crisis brought by the Covid-19, the festival is cancelled in 2020. In 2021, the festival is being celebrated trough “Panodsoran”, a traditional ritual/ prayers implemented as cultural aspect of the celebration with limited participants.
As of today, the local government unit of La Trinidad announced its preparation in the upcoming celebration of strawberry festival with activities approved by the municipal Inter-Agency Task Force for Covid-19 such as the “Panodsuran” o rituals, strawberry lane, strawberry cake baking competition, search for innovative strawberry product, online acoustic band competition and community lead activity.
Abiding the IATF health protocols and restrictions, the LGU will pursue the annual Strawberry Festival as one of the municipality’s most important agricultural activities and a major boost to the municipality’s strawberry industry since strawberry production and tourism industry has been seriously affected by the current pandemic for the past two years.
“Celebrating the one town one product festival is an economic opportunity. It will significantly help not only the strawberry farmers but also other small and medium enterprises’ buy products, and tourist spot. But, we are celebrating Strawberry Festival not only for economy or believing that the festival will inspire economic benefits but also as kind of place that strawberry symbolizes La Trinidad”, said Mr. Valred Olsim, Municipal Tourism Officer.
However, Mayor Romeo K. Salda stated that the municipal inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases will decide on the matter based on the Alert Level of the province and it will be announced by the middle of March.
“The municipal government does not want to risk the overall public health and safety by allowing the conduct of public gatherings. Thus, the Local Government will ensure the implementation of the ongoing safety health protocol and restrictions to prevent the local health care system from being overwhelmed and the front liners from being unduly stressed”, said Mayor Salda.
If you plan to visit Strawberry Festival, be ready for cold weather. Though March is the beginning of summer in the Philippines, Benguet still freezing. It may be a sunny day at day time, but temperatures can drop significantly at night. Be obliged to follow the health protocols and guidelines.
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