Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — The Bataan Trade Fair opened Monday at The Bunker, seat of the provincial government, signaling the start of celebration of the 80th Araw ng Kagitingan that has been temporarily suspended since 2019 due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The provincial government has not released yet the different activities to be held in the weeklong celebration that will culminate on April 9 at the Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan.
Bataan fell and surrendered on April 9, 1942 after heavy fighting between Filipino-American troops and the invading Japanese forces.
The trade fair has for sale at affordable prices various homemade products from 11 towns and one city in the province.
Balanga City featured various handicrafts and naturally, the much-sought dried fish, smoked fish, and bagoong.
Hermosa has bags and rugs while Morong has on display young coconuts, mangoes, and delicacies.
Available from Dinalupihan are talong, sili, okra, sitaw, kamatis, and pakwan that came directly from its farms.
From Pilar are coconuts, kalabasa, singkamas, kamote, and other delicacies while Orani has potato chips, taro chips, ground coffee, polvoron and others. Bagac featured handicrafts.
Also available are araro cookies, cashew nuts, walis tambo, bags, clothes, and sandals.
A World War II tank, a common sight at The Bunker, is now augmented by replicas of uniformed personnel as if standing on guard.
The trade fair runs until April 7.
