Villasis holds 7th “Talong Festival”

By Virgilio Sar. Maganes

VILLASIS- The famous purple-colored “talong” (eggplant) once again took the center stage as this town celebrates its fiesta from January 11 to 22.

The “Talong Festival” now on its 7th year took the limelight on the 10th day of celebration. It was attended by local folk and expatriates (balikbayans ) from the various countries of the world.

This year’s festival, like in the past years, featured the usual “pinakbet sa kawa”, 101 ways to cook talong in a cookfest and street dancing depicting the production of “ talong” were featured.

Abraham Lopez, a balikbayan nurse from New York ,USA was all agog as he witnessed this year’s parade of barangay in their long gowns bedecked with various vegetables – the main ingredient of an Ilocano viand, “pinakbet”.

“I have never imagined how creative our kababayans (town mates) are. I am impressed looking at green peppers as tiaras and even chopped squash as necklaces. This is indeed a sight to see and we expect more of this kind next festival in 2013,” he said.

The beauties from Barangays Zone I, Amamperez and Caramutan were proclaimed to have the best “veggie gowns” and personality projections- first place, second place and third place, respectively.

Nida Mira-Millano, a balikbayan from London, England took fancy on the “ pinakamahabang talong” (longest eggplant), “pinakamatabang talong” (stoutest eggplant) and “pinakamaliit na talong” (smallest eggplant).

“My husband and I looked forward to the celebration of Talong Festival annually. We see to it that we will have our vacation coinciding with the fiesta celebration in order not to miss the talong festival,” Millano said.

Lopez and Millano were two of those Villasinians living for years in other countries but have not missed the annual celebration of Talong Festival.

Mayor Libradita Go-Abrenica said that the “Talong Festival” has already been institutionalized as part of annual celebration of the town’s fiesta in honor of its Patron Saint Anthony Abbot.

“This was launched in 2006 by Mayor Nato (referring to her husband former Mayor Nonato Abrenica) and since then the pageantries of the festival has evolved into many activities. In 2006, we have the longest “talong” grill, in 2010 we have our collection of talong recipes which we launched in a coffee table book in 2011 and this year, we have the parade of barangay muses in their gowns with vegetables,”

Mayor Abrenica said that she owed the success of the celebration on the help of town mates living here and in overseas , the various private and government organizations in the town and in particular the reigning beauties- Her Majesty Queen Beatriz De Vera- Olivar, Her Royal Highness First Princess Cristina Manantan-Abenes and Her Royal Highness Second Princess Merlita Rayray-Magtaan.

She further said that she looked forward to a very meaningful celebration in 2013.

“It may not be as pompous as it is celebrated in previous years, but I assure our town mates that its pageantry will not wane,” Mayor Abrenica said.

She also thanked he Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Paz Sison-Rafanan- Councilors Nicholai Jan Q. Sison, Arvin B. Castro, Roderick Emmanuel R. Mina, Rolando Morden, Cheryl Bascos-Sembrano, Cheryl Zarasate-Tan, Rosario Lopez-Limos , Centenielo Ramon R. Costales, Jr. Liga ng Barangay President Romeo S. Abrenica and SK Federation President Jamille Susan Q. Sison., for their support in all phases of the fiesta celebration.

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