Metro Manila’s sole Probinsyudad opens its first Melon Festival

“Melon ba kayo nito? Sa Taguig, melon!”

 

With hopes of giving due credit to the sweet fruit that symbolizes the hard work of our Taguigeño farmers, the city government of Taguig launched its first-ever Melon festival at Taguig Melon Farm in Barangay Wawa last May 7, Monday.

 

Among the sixty-eight (68) farmers who contributed to the success of the event is 54-year old Mr. Reynaldo Cruz, who is also the President of the Taguig Farmers Association and has been farming in Taguig, which prides itself as Metro Manila’s “Probinsyudad,” for more than thirty years.

 

 

“We are happy for this opportunity to promote our harvest. This will help us greatly in boosting our popularity as the sole Probinsyudad in the Metro that in return will help us in retaining the remaining agricultural hectares in our city,” Cruz explained.

 

The rapidly developing city, home of the Bonifacio Global City and the ARCA South business districts, has managed to retain 202 hectares of agricultural land used for cultivation of melon, rice and high-value crops like kinchay. In line with this, Taguig continues to support the agricultural sector not just by providing Taguigeño farmers equipment but also creating a platform where they can exhibit the significance of the farming community and to promote the city’s homegrown products.

 

One of these initiatives is the Taguig’s first Melon Festival where Taguigeño families from different barangays had an exciting and fun-filled afternoon at the event led by Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, along with House Deputy Speaker and Taguig 2nd Dist. Rep. Pia Cayetano, Taguig City Vice Mayor Ricardo “Ading” Cruz Jr. and city councilors.

 

“This celebration is our way of gratitude to our Lord for providing continuous blessings to Taguig. We want to show everyone that despite our continuous progress as an urbanized city, we do not forget our roots,” Mayor Lani said during the opening ceremonies.

 

During the event, Taguigeño families were welcomed by the stunning performances of stilt walkers to the tune of an upbeat music played from drum beaters.

 

Smiles and laughter filled the summer air as participants joined the various games such as Melon Relay, Melon Eating, Father-and- Son Melon Run, and Shoot That Melon which uses the fruit as an essential part of the game.

 

The city’s melon festival also offered a variety of melon products and refreshments such as melon pancakes, melon jam, melon doughnuts, melon puto, melon ice candies, and melon juice to quench their thirst and hunger.

 

The celebration wasn’t complete without the melon picking activity of Mayor Lani and other city officials.

 

Under Mayor Lani’s administration, the local government through its City Agriculture Office gives technical assistance that includes the provision of Knapsack 4-Stroke Power Sprayers and distribution of free vegetable seeds to farmers in the city.

 

The City Agriculture Office also conducts lectures, seminars and trainings regarding urban farming and gardening.

 

In October 2014 and August 2017, Taguig Urban Farms have been established in Tipas Elementary School and Eusebio C. Santos Elementary School, respectively.

 

The Taguig Integrated Urban Farm, which sits on a 2,500-square meter land beside Lakeshore Hall in Barangay Lower Bicutan was also launched last December 2017.  The farm overlooking Laguna Lake integrates different kinds of urban farming setups—from gardens that showcase vertical farming that save space, to wooden rack and pole gardens that wow the eye. ###

 

FILIPINO VERSION

 

Tinaguriang Probinsyudad ng Metro Manila nagdaos ng kauna-unahang Melon Festival

 

“Melon ba kayo nito? Sa Taguig, melon!”

 

Upang mabigyan ng kaukulang pagkilala ang matamis na prutas na ito na sumisimbulo sa kasipagan ng mga Taguigeñong magsasaka, idinaos ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig ang kauna-unahang Melon Festival sa syudad.

 

Ito ay ginanap sa Taguig Melon Farm sa Barangay Wawa noong nakaraang Lunes, Mayo 7.

 

Isa sa 68 na magsasaka na tumulong upang maging matagumpay ang festival ay si Mr. Reynaldo Cruz, 54, presidente ng Taguig Farmers Association, na nagsasaka na sa Taguig na tinaguriang Probinsyudad ng Metro Manila, nang mahigit 30 taon.

 

“Masaya kami na nagkaroon ng ganitong klaseng kasiyahan upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na kilalanin ang prutas na aming inaani. Sa ganitong paraan ay lalong malalaman ng mas maraming tao na talagang masigla ang tinaguriang nag-iisang Probinsyudad sa Metro Manila,” saad ni Cruz.

 

Sa mabilis na pagbabago ng mga lugar kagaya ng Bonifacio Global City at ARCA South business district, napanatili ng lungsod ng Taguig na ingatan ang nalalabing 202 ektaryang agricultural land upang pagtaniman ng melon, palay at iba pang high-value crops gaya ng kinchay.

 

Patuloy naman ang pagbigay ng suporta ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig sa mga magsasakang Taguigeño kagaya ng pamimigay ng mga kagamitan at iba pang pamamaraan upang makilala ang mga produkto at ang pagsasaka sa Taguig.

 

Isa sa mga pagkilalang ito ay ang pagdaos ng kauna-unahang Melon Festival sa Taguig kung saan ang mga pamilya mula sa iba’t-ibang barangay ay nabigyan ng maghapong kasiyahan.

 

Ang festival ay pinangunahan ni Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, kasama si House Deputy Speaker at Taguig 2nd Dist. Rep. Pia Cayetano, Taguig City Vice Mayor Ricardo “Ading” Cruz Jr. at mga city councilors.

 

“This celebration is our way of gratitude to our Lord for providing continuous blessings to Taguig. We want to show everyone that despite our continuous progress as an urbanized city, we do not forget our roots,” wika ni Mayor Lani sa pagbubukas ng seremonyas ng festival.

 

Tuwa at kasiyahaan mula sa mga dumalong pamilya ang sumalubong sa mga stilt walkers na sumayaw sa tugtog bago ang simula ng mga iba’t-ibang laro kagaya ng Melon Relay, Melon Eating, Father-and-Son Melon Run, at Shoot That Melon kung saan ang prutas ang mahalagang parte ng mga kaganapan.

 

Naging pagkakataon din ang festival upang makilala ang produktong melon pancakes, melon jam, melon doughnuts, melon puto, melon ice candies, at melon juice na pumawi sa mga uhaw at gutom ng mga tao.

 

Hindi kumpleto ang selebrasyon kung wala ang ginanap na melon picking activity na pinangunahan ni Mayor Lani at ng mga city officials.

 

Sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Mayor Lani, ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Taguig sa pamamagitan ng City Agriculture Office, ay nagbibigay ng technical assistance at iba pang kagamitan kagaya ng Knapsack 4-Stroke Power Sprayers at mga punla ng mga gulay sa mga magsasaka sa lungsod.

 

Noong October 2014 at August 2017, ipinakilala sa madla ang Taguig Urban Farms na matatagpuan sa Tipas Elementary School at Eusebio C. Santos Elementary School.

 

Ang Taguig Integrated Urban Farm, na may lawak na 2,500-square meters sa tabi ng Lakeshore Hall sa Barangay Lower Bicutan ay inilunsad na rin noong December 2017.

 

Ang farm na ito ay overlooking sa Laguna Lake at merong iba’t-ibang klase ng urban farming setups—mula sa hardin na nagsasagawa ng mga vertical farming methods upang tipid sa kinakaing lugar, hanggang sa wooden rack at pole gardens na tila namang napakaganda sa kapaligiran. ###