Philippine Daily Inquirer

WITH P50, EAT ALL FRUITS YOU CAN IN KIDAPAWAN

- —EDWINO. FERNANDEZ INQ

KIDAPAWANC­ITY— This provincial capital of Cotabato has prepared an “all-you-can-eat” fruit spread for its visitors during the city’s 71st founding anniversar­y for a minimal fee.

The catch? For P50, visitors may eat all the locally grown lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen, marang and durian they can at fruit stands set up at the city plaza, but a “no take home, no leftover” policy is imposed.

No ‘take home’

“Eat all you can but do not take anything home,” Mayor Joseph Evangelist­a said as he welcomed visitors to the three-day “Timpupo” (harvest) fruit festival, a highlight of the city’s anniversar­y celebratio­n. About 6,000 kilograms of assorted fruits are spread out daily during the event, which opened onMonday.

A P200 fine will be imposed on anyone found sneaking out fruits. Participan­ts should finish what they take or pay another P200 fine.

Celebratin­g culture

Kidapawan has been staging the festival for the past three years to promote fruits grown in the city and to celebrate the diverse and colorful culture of indigenous peoples here.

Evangelist­a said other highlights of the anniversar­y celebratio­n, which opened on Aug. 10, were the city-wide fruit tree planting activity, search for the 2018 Binibining Kalikasan, trade exhibit, farm family day, Kidapawan culture and arts exhibit and a costume parade.

 ??  ?? FRUITS GALORE Tribal elders sample fruits offered to visitors during the Timpupo Festival in Kidapawan City.
FRUITS GALORE Tribal elders sample fruits offered to visitors during the Timpupo Festival in Kidapawan City.

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