By Ruben A.Veloria
IBA, ZAMBALES, Philippines – The sweetest festival in the country, locally known as Dinamulag Festival, kicked off on Friday (April 10) as thousands of runners of all ages joined the color fun run, the first activity of the three-day celebration.
Dinamulag or Mango Festival is celebrated in Zambales during the month of April or May, when mangoes, especially the “Kinalabaw” or dinamulag, known world-wide for its exceptional sweetness, are being harvested.
To formally start the festival, Gov. Ebdane, assisted by Vice Gov. Jacky Khonghun and Board Member Runsdedt Ebdane, led the countdown for the 10K, 5K and 3 kilometer run at exactly 6:00AM. At the end of the race, finishers picked–up their luck from a raffle draw for a chance to win home appliances.
Meanwhile, later that morning, Gov. Ebdane graced the Governor’s Cup Shootfest at Camp Conrado Yap where he also opened the Zambales Provincial Police Office Firing Range to give the police force a refresherand practice area of their marksmanship.
“This is an opportunity to see people, the protector of peace, to come together as, and play together as brothers,” he said in message.
He also urged the competitors to become good examples of responsible gun owners, and to undergo Basic Pistol Course to get informed about the new guidelines, new laws, and trends related to gun owning.
Competitors to Shootfest were from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA), Phil. Navy, PDEA, BJMP from various stations and private groups in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
In line with the Shootfest, private individuals and companies took advantage of the three-day PNP evaluation and approval of application for License to Own and Posses Firearms (LTOPF), and Firearms display at Legislative Building in Iba here.
Other activities lined-up for the day: Mango Cooking Festival, Thanksgiving Mass (San Agustine Church), and Drum and Lyre Competition (Botolan Peoples Plaza).
Saturday, the day reserved for adrenaline and gun enthusiasts with the Mountain Bike Challenge to be held at Sports Complex), Airsoft Competition at Barangay Dirita, 2nd Day of Governor’s Cup Shootfest at Camp Conrado Yap, and Tuklas Talino: Final Night. The Festival will conclude on Sunday with more exciting games and challenges.
