PGMA to kick off Camiguin's Lanzones Festival anew
MAMBAJAO, Camiguin (16 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit this picturesque volcanic island anew tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 17) to grace the 28th Lanzones Festival, one of Mindanao's cultural and tourism offerings.
The President had, in the past, always taken time from her hectic schedule to join the local residents in the colorful thanksgiving festivities in this province aimed at further enhancing Camiguin's tourism program.
A thanksgiving mass will kick off the festival, followed by a parade from the provincial capitol to the Camiguin Tourism Center.
The thanksgiving festival is in gratitude to the abundance of the lanzones fruit, one of the major components of the island province's economy. During the festival, houses, carriages, street poles and even people are decorated with lanzones and its leaves.
Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo and Rep. Pedro Romualdo will lead the ribbon cutting of the Agro-Industrial Technology Trade Fair, one of the activities during the kick-off ceremony.
There will be street dancing on Saturday (Oct. 20) to commemorate ostensibly the legend of a beautiful, unknown maiden who took away the former bitter taste of the fruit, leaving only its luscious and sweet flavor
Camiguin's name was derived from "Kamagong," meaning hardwood tree which grew abundantly in the pear-shaped volcanic island lying in the Bohol Sea.
Lanzones fruit production is a major component of Camiguin island's economy.
From here, the President will fly on the same day to Esperanza, Agusan del Sur to launch some livelihood assisted projects and inspect the Agusan del Sur hospital. (OPS) [top]