THE 2018 edition of La Trinidad's Strawberry Festival has finally reached its climax after the main program and "owik tan tayao" last March 16, and the community parade and performances last March 17. This will be my third significant involvement as the Strawberry Festival's executive committee secretariat and action officer. Believe me, we are still learning and/or mastering its complexities.
The Strawberry Festival, just like most festivities, is considered a "tourism event" in the circles of tourism operations. This is because even though they are designed as community celebrations, festivals inherently draws tourist visits and promotes tourism products. The action officer shall then be trained in the areas of events management, communication, marketing, incident command systems /safety and security management, public relations, and more. This is because the position is not, and should not be, pure glamour alone - in my experience, the action officer is both involved in high level planning and, also the most mundane legwork like carrying chairs or packing-up the sound systems after events. We did all those. Yet, the most challenging will always involve paperworks, committee delays/decisions, the bureaucracy, and unfortunately...politics.
One who is not ready for these will crash and burn. As a member of the executive committee body, things that go wrong should be accepted as it is and be considered for improvement. On such cases, the blame shall be directed to us, regardless of unavoidable circumstances or specific lapses of our own members. As professionals, we take the credit, as well as the criticism...always accept the good with the bad.
But the 'owik' still hangs on the air, and the scent of strawberries at the strawberry lane still invites weary souls... the sound of the gongs, and drums are still ringing in the witnesses' memories. Behind the smiles and cheers in the activities are hardworking people who only desire to make the Strawberry Festival as vivacious and worthy for the community - the active committee members of events especially the rank and file employees, the parents and coordinators of the drum and lyre and street dancing participants as well as the talented children who performed radiantly even with toasted soles, the members of the neighborhood who stayed awake until dawn to create their barangay floats, the participants of all contests, all those who work for the different events' successes: they are the real heroes of the festivities.
Although the festival will conclude with a community bonfire on March 27 after the closing and awarding program, I wish to thank the people who offered their time and energy in making the activities and events possible. Iyaman! Salamat en dakayu! Thank you very much!
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It's not over yet. We have yet to taste the Strawberry wines on the wine fair today at the strawberry lane, or witness our young and vigorous Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad candidates on the March 21 pageant, or join the talented representatives of the barangays on March 23. We have yet to ride on the kabadjo during the March 24 and 25 Dongba ni Kabajo at Wangal. We have yet to complete the various sports activities scheduled which are part of the celebrations. Definitely, it is still our Strawberry Festival!