La Trinidad fetes strawberry growers with Strawberry Festival

BAGUIO CITY—Residents of La Trinidad, the municipal capital of Benguet, on Friday, March 16, took part in this year’s Strawberry Festival which has been declared a special non-working holiday through Presidential Proclamation No. 374 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso and La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda led a government and civic parade at 7:00 a.m. before holding a program feting the town’s strawberry growers.

Each year, La Trinidad harvests some 1.7 million kilograms of strawberries which thrive in cool climate.

Salda said La Trinidad has 79.9 hectares of strawberry farms, with an average production of 22 tons per hectare.

A multi-cultural celebration will follow at 1:00 p.m. that will begin with the “Owik tan Tayao,” a traditional dance gathering that involves the ritual sacrifice and sharing of pigs. — Kimberlie Quitasol