The vibrant Dinamulag Festival officially opened, showcasing the province’s pride—the “dinamulag” or carabao mango—through a three-day celebration filled with culture, competition, and culinary flair.
Festivities began with a Color Fun Run on April 10, drawing participants of all ages who took on 3K, 5K, and 10K routes across town. This was followed by the Dinamulag Mango Cooking Challenge held at Micro Asia College, where contestants created innovative mango-based dishes.
In the afternoon, 11 contingents from across the province competed in a drum and lyre showdown at the Botolan People’s Plaza, delivering performances that combined music, dance, and visual storytelling to reflect their local heritage.
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the festival continues to strengthen community ties and promote tourism, even as some fuel-intensive events were removed in line with government austerity measures.
Among the cancelled activities were the float parade and motorized races, longtime highlights of the annual celebration. In their place, organizers introduced new attractions such as the Mango-Eating Contest, Pinaka-Manggahan Contest, and Zambales Tourism Vlog Challenge.
Festivalgoers can still look forward to a lineup of events, including the Mountain Bike Challenge, 10-Man Team Airsoft Competition, Mango Industry Training, the 3rd Governor’s Cup Shootfest, and the Zamba-Tuklas Talento Grand Finals, with the shootfest and firearms exhibit extending into the final day.
The Dinamulag Festival also marks the start of the summer tourism season in Zambales, known for its beaches, rivers, mountain trails, and camping sites.
According to the Zambales Provincial Tourism and Investment Promotion Office (PTIPO), the province welcomed 1.25 million visitors last year and over 94,000 tourists during the recent Holy Week. Officials project at least 600,000 arrivals this summer despite the ongoing energy crisis.
Top destinations expected to draw crowds include the coastal towns of San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, and Botolan, known for their thriving beach communities popular among surfers and vacationers. (Taktikom News & Features)
Photos: Zambales for the People | Jonas Reyes | Taktikom News & Features
