ILOILO CITY – The yearly celebration of the Manggahan Festival is off to a great start with the opening of the Guimaras Island Ecobazaar (GEB) 2024 at Robinsons Place Iloilo on April 24.

Instead of the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony, this year’s eco-bazaar initiated with a symbolic mango-picking event led Guimaras Provincial Economic Development Officer (PEDO) Francis Gentoral, DTI Guimaras Officer-in-Charge Provincial Director (OIC-PD) Juvy Benliro, DTI Region VI Trade and Industry Development Specialist (TIDS) Andrea Reyes representing Officer-in-Charge Regional Director (OIC-RD) Rachel Nufable, TESDA Guimaras Provincial Director (PD) Jonathan Togonon, and DTI Iloilo Supervising Trade and Industry Development Specialist (SuTIDS) Jonathan Tejida.

The GEB is a trade fair that highlights the island’s key producers and offers visitors a glimpse of the unique and exquisite crafts and delicacies that Guimaras has to offer.

This event holds significant importance not only as a marketplace but also as a symbol of the resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the local MSMEs in the Province of Guimaras.

For twelve years running, the Guimaras Island Eco Bazaar has provided a platform for our entrepreneurs to showcase their products to a wider audience, expanding market reach beyond the beautiful Province of Guimaras’ borders. 

This week-long fair has been made possible through a fruitful partnership between the provincial government of Guimaras and the DTI Guimaras Provincial Office.

It marks not only the beginning of the Guimaras Island Eco Bazaar but also the start of the annual Manggahan Festival. This festival does not only celebrate the mango as a symbol of Guimaras’ agricultural bounty but its importance as a major producer of this tropical fruit. Guimaras is famous for producing some of the best mangoes in the Philippines, known for their sweetness, juiciness, and vibrant flavor.

Locally, Guimaras mangoes are prized for their exceptional quality and flavor, making them a favorite fruit among Filipinos. In international markets, Guimaras mangoes have also gained recognition and are exported to other countries like Switzerland and Singapore.

 
The province’s adherence to strict quality standards and sustainable farming practices ensures that Guimaras mangoes meet the expectations of discerning consumers both at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, during the first day of the Ecobazaar, a mango-eating contest took center stage highlighting Guimaras’s renowned mangoes, celebrated for their world-class quality.

According to DTI Guimaras OIC-PD Juvy Benliro, this year’s EcoBazaar boasts a diverse array of products from 30 local MSME exhibitors, ranging from handicrafts and wearables to processed foods and fresh mangoes. These products not only exemplify high quality but also mirror the unique culture and traditions of Guimaras, with a goal of generating Php 2.5 million in cash sales, orders, and pending negotiations.

The GEB 2024 is located at the Fountain Area of Robinsons Mall, offering buyers a chance to experience the local delicacies and colorful handicrafts while appreciating Guimarasnon culture and values. The event runs until April 30, so locals and tourists are encouraged to visit and support local products. Buy local and go local! ♦

Date of release: 30 April 2024

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