Thirteen tons—or around 11,000 kilos—of sweet mangoes are being offered at the 10-day Manggahan Festival in Guimaras, which opened Friday and runs until May 25. Organizers hope to surpass last year’s 63,000 visitors with mango-inspired food, music, and cultural activities.
One of the main attractions is the mango-eat-all-you-can challenge, where guests can enjoy unlimited mangoes for 30 minutes for a fee of P100. In 2024, a visitor from Louisville, Kentucky topped 9,500 participants by eating 25 mangoes.
Other highlights include a music festival, cultural and street dance competition among Guimaras’ five towns, a beauty pageant, youth and farmers’ events, and an agri-fishery fair. Local officials say the 2025 edition is bigger and more inclusive, showcasing not just mangoes but the full range of Guimaras produce.
Governor JC Rahman Nava said this year’s festival aims to match or exceed last year’s success, when Manggahan generated over P311.87 million. Tourism alone brought in P84.47 million, while the music festival, accommodation, transport, and trade fairs also posted significant revenues.
Lone District Rep. Lucille Nava noted that the event had a major impact on the local economy, boosting activity across sectors. She said Manggahan 2025 would blend tradition and innovation, with tech-driven exhibits aimed at empowering farmers, fisherfolk, and women entrepreneurs