Manggahan 2024 preparations kick off

GUIMARAS – To ensure yet another successful staging of the Manggahan Festival and the celebration of Guimaras’ provincehood anniversary, the provincial government has begun its preparations.

Manggahan Festival 2024 and the 32nd provincehood anniversary are slated for May 3 to May 22.

This year’s theme is “Sustaining tradition, embracing innovation: Sulong Kabataan.”

Last Jan. 17, the provincial government, headed by Governor Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava, MD, and Vice Gov. John Edward Gando, convened with other public officials to discuss the celebrations’ programs and activities.

A grand caravan, an “Imbukada,” and the AgriFishery and Eco-Tourism Expo will mark the series of activities for the Manggahan Festival 2024.

Adding color to this year’s celebration are Miss Guimaras, the music festival and street party, cultural and agricultural activities, sports events, and other side events.

Manggahan Festival 2024 anchors on the objectives of fostering pride in Guimaras, boosting the local green and blue economy, improving community relationships and partnerships, and promoting tourism products and services.

In 2023, five tribes participated in the festival’s highlights—the street dance and cultural competition. The tribes are:

* Hubon Bulantihan from the municipality of Jordan

* Hubon Palayag from the municipality of Buenavista

* Hubon Balsahan from the municipality of Sibunag

* Hubon Sadsaran, from the municipality of Nueva Valencia

* Hubon San Lorenzohanon from the municipality of San

Lorenzo

Hubon Himal-us of Guimaras State University performed as a non-competing tribe.

But what many local and foreign tourists look forward to the most is the mango-eat-allyou-can, where guests can feast on the fruit for P150 within 30 minutes that usually starts from May 19 to 22 at the Capitol grounds./