Strawberry Festival 2017

March 25, 2017 Educator's Corner Opinion

Why do we celebrate Strawberry Festival every year? How is it celebrated? Are these plants classified as vine, bush or herb? All these questions pop up in my mind every time the month of March comes. For eleven years that I stayed in Benguet, I never dared asking what Strawberry Festival is, why do people in Benguet celebrate and how is it being celebrated. I only appreciate very much how strawberries look like, its fruit that illuminates the feeling of looking at a young lady wearing red lipstick.
It maybe shameful to say that during the first time I came here in Benguet, I had the expectation that strawberries are bushes, only to find out that strawberry plants are classified as a forb or herb. Forb or herb plants are ones that don’t have significant amounts of woody tissue above the ground but are still vascular. Their lack of woody tissue caused them to be relatively short that makes them grow just above the ground. Merely looking at them is so attractive and enticing. This somehow is one reason why strawberries have to be marketed. As such, Strawberry Festival is yearly celebrated in Benguet. But how do people in Benguet celebrate such? From researches we had, locals and visitors enjoy different activities like Agro Trade fair, search, job fairs, strawberry tour and picking, civic and float parade, cultural presentation, an “Uwik”, fireworks display and many more.
So this is it, how remarkable and ingenious to celebrate such. This reminisces and edifies the youth of today about the essence of preserving the rich culture and traditions of the Cordillerans. In comparison with other regions, they do have festivities which highlight the culture and traditions of the people living there. Here in Benguet, I see it as a significant event and a big accomplishment among the province officials and organizers who started such because it really helps the generation nowadays to value the culture and traditions imbibed in us by our forefathers. It also marks a prestigious event in the past that is worthy to be preserved and celebrated. Further, celebrations like this bring forth unity and camaraderie among Cordilleran people and other neighbouring regions; entice local and international tourists not only to witness said occasion but helps in boosting the industry of the province. Celebration like Strawberry Festival is indeed worthy to be proud of! PHYLIS B. LANG-AKAN (Sto. Tomas National High School)