BOKOD, BENGUET — Tilapia farming in this small town which hosts the Ambuklao Dam has grown by leaps and bounds.
During the 7th Tilapia Festival held October 25, the celebration featured Eshel ni Tilapia, an ibaloi term which means “to catch” tilapia.
Bokod Councilor Arthur Solano said they have longed for a regular annual celebration to promote the tilapia and boost livelihood of the residents.
The celebration started in 2012 and coincides with the culmination of Barangay Ambuklao People's Day and closing of first Ambuklao adventure.
It highlights the tilapia, which is farmed in Barangay Ambuklao and in the municipality of Bokod.
This year, 300 kilograms of fresh tilapia were prepared for the constituents and visitors.
Solano narrated that tilapia farming at the Ambuklao Dam started in the late 1990s after Northern Luzon was struck by an earthquake. It has become one of the major sources of livelihood in the area.
To date, there are more than 80 fish cages of tilapia located within the reservoir of Ambuklao Dam.
The fish catching competition, according to Solano, serves as a venue for the youth to witness the old ways and means of catching fish.
Ambuklao Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Cristino Antonio added it will test their skills.
Participants were judged through the number and weight of their catch. Jessie Wasit, Jordan Velasco and Junar Solano were hailed as champions.
In the afternoon, five pairs from different sitios participated in the cooking competition showcasing the freshwater fish while the youth, men and women bring it all in for indigenous games of sungka and tug of war.
Barangay Ambuklao hosts the hydroelectric facility that can store up to 327 million cubic meters of water and produce up to 105 megawatts of electricity for Luzon.