BENGUET’S capital town is gearing up for the annual La Trinidad Strawberry Festival and planning to showcase another giant cake as the centerpiece.

Mayor Romeo Salda disclosed that members of the Strawberry Festival executive council have proposed the creation of another strawberry short cake but will still have to get the nod of the town’s bakers association and the strawberry farmers, who will be asked to contribute fresh strawberries.

Strawberry Festival secretariat and Municipal Tourism Officer Valred Olsim said there is still no specific size being eyed for the giant cake.

This year’s festival with the theme “La Trinidad: My Home, My Pride” showcases different activities that will kick off in March 4 and will run until March 29.

The month-long celebration will feature the strawberry lane and agro-fair, art and mural competition, job fair, “duting tan dukto,” mass wedding, search for Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad, acoustic band competition, “Dongba ni Kabajo,” “Kekkan, Owik Tan Tayao,” which is a multi-cultural celebration, drum and lyre competition, street dancing and float parade, battle of the bands, concert at the park, balikabayan day and barangay night.

The committee is set to conduct meeting next week in preparation for the annual festival.

The festival was launched in 1981 and was institutionalized in 2011.

With its institutionalization, the town has gained recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest strawberry shortcake.

Vice Mayor Joey Marrero, meanwhile, reiterated to organizers that contestants to the Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad Pageant should be residents of the valley and aware of the issues in their barangays.