JAEN, Nueva Ecija – The municipal government is honoring local farmers and their patron saint in a week-long Manggulay Festival in connection with the town’s 158th founding anniversary, Mayor Sylvia Austria said.
Themed “Manggulay: Bida sa Hamon ng Buhay,” the festival officially commenced with a with a thanksgiving Mass at St. Augustine church here on Monday, followed by a street dance competition participated in by both elementary and secondary students in coordination with the Department of Education, an “Ulam na Alzate” cooking competition and opening of inter-agency sports fest.
“Itong mga kaganapan na ito ay iniaalay natin sa ating patron na si San Agustin at ito ay ating pasasalamat sa kanyang mga pagsubaybay at pagbibigay ng kaligtasan at magandang ani sa mga taga-Jaen,” Austria said.
Manggulay stands for mangga (mango) and gulay (vegetables), the primary products of local farmers here.
“Ang mangga’t gulay ay talagang napakahalaga sa bayan ng Jaen dahil ang produktong ito ay siyang nagbibigay ng hanapbuhay sa ating mga magsasaka,” the mayor noted.
Austria, along with Vice Mayor Atty. Sylvester Austria and officials and employees of various local and national agencies joined the event that was graced by provincial tourism head Atty. Joma San Pedro.
The vice mayor said the celebration has a long line of activities anchored on strength in unity.
San Pedro, for his part, said the post-pandemic relaunch of Manggulay Festival relived the culture of the people of Jaen.
“We’re very glad to feel and see that all of our festivals in the entire province ay unti-unti na po’ng bumabalik,” San Pedro said. “Of course, all of these activities ay nakakatulong sa ating local tourism, majority of our visitors are local tourists, meaning yung ating mga kababayan sa lalawigan na umiikot para suportahan po ang paggaganap ng mga festival ng iba’t ibang mga bayan,” he said.
