March Strawberry Festival Headed Our way

Strawberries are the most popular product in Baguio even among the various traditional dishes that the city is famous for. Fresh strawberries are one of the most sought-after pasalubong from the Summer Capital of the Philippines, and tourists stockpile them at the Baguio City Market.

In the southernmost region of the Cordillera Administrative Region is the high-altitude province of Benguet. Strawberries and other fruits can be harvested because to the province’s mountains and mild environment.

Benguet’s capital is La Trinidad. Due to its extensive strawberry crop, it is sometimes referred to as the Strawberry Capitol of the Philippines. Due to the municipality’s proximity to Baguio City, the Philippines’ summer capital, exploring these hectares of vibrant fields is simple.

The “Salad Bowl of the Philippines” moniker for Benguet is a result of the region’s rich natural resources and the region’s chilly climate. In this area, a lot of the nation’s fruits and vegetables grow well. Also, there is a vast supply of flowers that are shipped across the nation. Strawberries, though, are what Benguet is best known for.

One of the most well-known tourist destinations in the region is the strawberry farm in La Trinidad Benguet. It is a wonderful location for picking strawberries and taking in the fresh air.

What is Strawberry Festival?

The La Trinidad Strawberry Festival is a long-awaited event in the Philippine province of Benguet. Many local and international tourists have attended this festival since it began in 1981. This event will feature a variety of events, including a multicultural celebration, a competition for the biggest and tastiest strawberry, a flower arranging competition, entertainment, a fun run, and more.

Every 23rd of March, the capital city of La Trinidad Benguet brings out the greatest of its produce – strawberries. In La Trinidad alone, there are around 700 strawberry farms. And each year, these fields yield more than a thousand metric tons of fruit. The Strawberry Festival is an annual custom in several regions of the Philippines as a way to celebrate and give thanks for a good crop.

How the Strawberry Festival came about

The first-ever Strawberry Festival was started by the former Mayor Hilarion Pawid in 1981. In order to encourage farmers to plant the fruit, Pawid organized the first Strawberry Festival after realizing the potential of strawberry farming. It worked since Benguet is now referred to as the “Strawberry Capital of the Philippines,” proving its success.

The Flower Festival or Panagbenga in Baguio, which is three hours away from La Trinidad, is only a week away, so the time was also ideal. Many Filipinos now make it a custom to combine two festivals in one trip, the Flower Festival and the Strawberry Festival.

Although the festival is now formally titled as La Trinidad: Panaspulan, which means “culture gathering,” it is still commonly known as Strawberry Festival.

Strawberry Festival 2023

The local administration has just scheduled about 24 events for the actual Strawberry Festival, which will take place from March 6–31, 2023. This will assist to gradually and carefully revive the severely damaged local economy.

“A Festival for Recovery: Building a Brighter Future from Adversities.’ is the theme of this year’s festivities.

The official opening of Strawberry Lane and the Agro-Fair, where traders, farmers, and small, medium, and local businesses will sell strawberry products and by-products, as well as the cutting of a ribbon in the city park, all take place on March 6.

The many Festivities at the Strawberry Festival

It is eagerly anticipated that the La Trinidad Strawberry Festival will take place. It has achieved a Guinness World Record and received other tourism honors. The largest strawberry cake ever made, weighing 9,622.23 kg, was cooked by local bakers in 2004.

La Trinidad provides a wide range of events throughout the month. And every year, the event schedule is subject to change, but keep a watch out for news. Newspapers typically publish a timetable in advance, though it isn’t always provided on the city’s official page.

Supporting the Locals

The Strawberry Festival gives the local administration and its allies a chance to improve the neighborhood. Either at the start of or near the end of the festival, a sizable job fair is conducted, primarily featuring opportunities in agriculture. They also hold a music competition known as Caballero Day to highlight the many excellent musicians in the area.

Markets and Bazaars

The Strawberry Festival wouldn’t be anything without its trade fairs and open markets, despite the abundance of fresh product, including dozens of different fruits and vegetables in addition to strawberries. At the Municipal grounds, sellers have set up kiosks and stalls where they sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as goods like jams, tarts, and pies.

La Trinidad residents are creative when it comes to goods. A variety of handicrafts are available for display in your house or as souvenirs. In the area, handwoven clothing is also a cultural icon. You can also find other types of repurposed materials made into bags, shoes, and other goods as part of their dedication to protecting the environment.

Cultural Display

Early residents in Benguet had already benefited greatly from the province’s abundant resources long before the Spanish entered the Philippines. La Trinidad features a number of cultural performances and displays occurring all month long to honor this legacy. The “owik,” a custom that entails piercing the heart of a sacrificed pig, is noteworthy.

Of course, since this is the Philippines, parades, exhibits, and street dancing competitions are also included in these cultural showcases.

Sports and Active fun

Other sporting events take place throughout the month as well. The most typical event is the fun run, but there may also be karate shows, slow-pitch games, and basketball competitions. Again, these activities vary from year to year, but guests are always welcome to participate.

Strawberry Binge

Of course, food is an integral part of any festival in the Philippines. Since 2004, huge strawberry shortcakes have been made by neighborhood bakeries to feed festival visitors. Even though it’s a tiny fraction of its original size, the strawberry cake still serves 15,000 portions annually. A Strawberry Shortcake Competition is also held to promote the development of one of La Trinidad’s most well-known dishes.

Although farms are open to visitors throughout the year, now is the ideal time to go strawberry picking. Also, there is a contest for the best harvest. While they are evaluated for the heaviest and sweetest fruits, farmers put on display their best selections.

Travel Tips

Although the Philippines’ festivals are enjoyable, the sheer number of attendees can make them difficult. The following advice will make your travel easier:

• There is no direct route from Manila to La Trinidad. There are two first-class buses that travel to Baguio. Purchase tickets from Joy Bus or Victory Liner. You can book from whichever terminal is closest to you because both operators have multiple terminals in Manila. It is simple to catch a taxi or a jeepney that is going directly to La Trinidad from Baguio.
• Money is king. Almost every province in the Philippines can attest to this. Although though La Trinidad has plenty of shops, you should spend the majority of your shopping at the bazaars and public markets. The nicest goods and the most distinctive mementos can be found here. Make sure you have enough cash to cover everyone since there won’t be any credit card machines here.
• Be ready for the cold. In Benguet, it may get quite chilly in March even though it’s summer in the Philippines. Even while it may be comfortable during the day, temperatures might drop dramatically at night.