Sunday, March 02, 2008 Strawberry Festival on sans biggest cake
GIVEN the proper promotion and management, the Strawberry Festival of La Trinidad could expand and become as famous as Baguio's Flower Festival.
Tourism Regional Director Purificacion Molintas said the Strawberry Festival could invite tourists as huge as the Flower Festival, especially since it already made a record in the world map.
"The festival is still in its budding stage but we are confident it could grow to the magnitude of Baguio's Flower Festival, given the proper opportunity, management and funding," Molintas said.
La Trinidad is celebrating its 6th festival on March 14 to 24. The Local Government started staging the festival in 2002 with the baking of giant strawberry cakes, which became the major crowd-drawer.
It gained world recognition when it was lodged in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest strawberry shortcake. The cake was baked in 2004.
The festival sees more support in terms of promotion with the organization of the Benguet Visitor's Bureau, a group of individuals and establishment aiming to showcase the best in the province.
Businessman Greg Loy said the bureau would work on the promotion of the tourism areas and undertakings of Benguet's 13 towns, as the private sector's contribution to the tourism industry.
This year's festival, however, will not highlight the giant strawberry cake. Mayor Artemio Galwan said the town is preparing for the baking of a giant one in 2009.
Among the features of this year's festival will be the audio-visual presentation of how the record-holder cake was made.
Booths exclusively for strawberry products will also be provided on the duration of the 10-day festival. (JC)
