LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- In celebration of the 36th Strawberry Festival, local bakers showcase their skills during the Strawberry Baking and Pastries Competition at the Municipal Gym on March 21.
Municipal Agriculturist Felicita Ticbaen said the competition serves as one of the highlights of the festival as local bakers create cakes and pastries using strawberry as their main ingredient.
Bakers are given three hours to create pastries and cakes for pasalubong to be judged based on taste, texture, appearance, packaging, costing, uniqueness, and cleanliness and orderliness of the working area.
Gregorio Retonio topped the strawberry shaped cake baking category besting Layla Maaba, and Charice Lagyop who settled for second and third place respectively.
In the strawberry tarts category, Nikki Dapyanon won 1st place with Racquel Ann Bawat and Iriz Anne Rodriguez bagging second and third place respectively. Winners received certificates and cash prizes.
Meanwhile, Barangay Tawang edged nine contenders from the different barangays and schools in the municipality during the street dance competition held at Municipal Grounds on March 19.
Tawang, with their dance concept showing the unity and cooperation of their barangay, wowed not only the judges but also the crowd that was accompanied by the Ibaloi Bendian Music.
Tawang Punong Barangay Denver Gomeyac said the dancers were culled during a recent celebration in the village were 45 of them were selected KASABAT Dancers, Taraki groups, SIGLAt and Tinun-udan groups.
“We just finished our Tawang Agro-eco festival and one of our activity is the best street dancers. Eventually, this four participating teams joined and represented our barangay,” Gomeyac said.
Tawang received P30,000 cash and a trophy for topping the event as Ambiong placed second receiving P20,000 and a trophy while Shilan took the third place and went home with P15,000 cash and a trophy. Other contenders received P5,000 cash incentives and certificates. (Shena Golosino with a report from Almira Alberto/UB Intern)