If there’s one thing that will forever endear anyone who has visited Cebu—aside from the warm, genuine smiles of the Cebuanos, of course—it’s got to be the abundance of sweet, juicy mangoes that makes the island a lot more inviting.
A hands-down worldwide favorite, mangoes have easily become a proud trademark of Cebu, long before the recent mango craze caught on in various parts of the country. Such has been the inspiration behind the upcoming Cebu Mangoes Festival, a two-day festivity that celebrates the legacy and the success of mangoes as the top produce of the Queen City of the South.
The event takes place at The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City on May 25 and 26, 2019, and will be spearheaded by Megaworld Corporation, in partnership with the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Office.
“We are very happy to get this celebration underway here in Lapu-Lapu City as we pay tribute to the mangoes of Cebu that the world has come to love. The Mactan Newtown is a very special township that plays host to more than 200 mango trees lined up along the main avenue, and it is the vision of our chairman Dr. Andrew L. Tan to showcase this vibrant aspect of the Cebu lifestyle. That is the reason why we find it fitting to celebrate Cebu mangoes here,” says Noli D. Hernandez, president, Megaworld Cebu Properties, Inc.
Tourists and visitors will literally have their hands full of everything and anything mangoes the moment the festival begins. Guests are invited to take part as the celebration kicks off with the Mango Street Dancing led by the Kadaugan Dancers on May 25, followed by the official start of the all-day mango picking activity along Newtown Boulevard inside The Mactan Newtown.
There’s also the Mango Bazaar featuring the so-called “mangopreneurs” of Cebu that will showcase a wide variety of mango-related products. Those who will take part in the festival can also look forward to enjoying a dining feast at the 500-seater Mactan Alfresco.
Also among the much-awaited activities that will form part of the festival is the unveiling of the world’s biggest mango sago, which is eyed to become a historic first in the island.
Both days will be capped off by the MANGAmazing Concert, which will feature live performances from Cebu’s most sought after talent, as well as a grand fireworks display.
“The Cebu Mangoes Festival is a one-of-a-kind celebration here at the Historic Resort City of Lapu-Lapu and this side of Cebu. Although the economic progress of the city has gone up by leaps and bounds, agriculture products like mangoes still thrive, and that proves how rich and diverse Cebu’s economic sector really is,” shares Hembler Mendoza, Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Head.
The 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown of Megaworld is the country’s first “Live-Work-Play-Learn” lifestyle township with its own beachfront located in Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu. It is currently home to almost 10,000 BPO and office workers, as well as to Megaworld’s first school in Visayas and Mindanao, the Lasallian-supervised Newtown School of Excellence. For more information, like the The Mactan Newtown on Facebook (facebook.com/MactanNewtown) or follow @mactannewtown_ on Instagram and Twitter.
