Nestled on the western slope of the Cordillera Mountains, residents of this town, about 30 kilometers from Laoag City in northern Philippines, celebrates Gameng Festival every January to showcase their municipality’s unique cultural identity and heritage and as inhabitants of “Zona del Sol”, a Spanish word which means “zone of the rising sun”.

Gameng is an Ilokano word for treasure.

For 18 years now, the municipal government continues to spearhead the week-long festivity.

This year, from Jan. 20-27, a grand parade of various socio-civic organizations and dance showdown, among others, will be held to show the value of unity, resilience, and faith of its people in time for the town’s 115th foundation anniversary.

Among the highlights of the festival, which continues to draw visitors, include the exotic food fair on Jan. 25, where native food delicacies cooked the Ilocano traditional way will be presented to visitors for tasting.

Dubbed as “Naisangsangayan a taraon (Extraordinary food)”, people from all walks of life line up at the eat-all-you-can buffet tables as a way of thanksgiving and celebration of good life in the town known for its fertile soil and abundant water supply from its rivers and creeks.

Every year, balikbayans (Filipinos from overseas), guests, and visitors look forward to this event as exotic food delights such as wild deer, wild boar, native snail, abuos (ant eggs), paltat (catfish), dalag (mudfish), agurong (fresh water mollusk with elongated spiral shell), birabid (fresh water mollush with thin shell), ballaiba (an aquatic plant with ribbon-like leaves), aba (taro), bilagot (a tuber related to taro) and a whole lot more are up in the table.

Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara said the food fair is one way of showcasing the town’s best products, which has kept local residents here take pride of their rich natural resources.

There is also a special day for farmers to parade carriages adorned with agricultural crops and eco-friendly materials sourced from the forest, rivers, and farms of Solsona, as well as the search for Manong and Manang Mannalon (Mr. and Ms. Farmer), exhibiting pride and honor as food producers.

‘Agriculture is the backbone of the Philippine economy. I am sure that our support to the sector will continue to increase the productivity of farmers and make Solsona as the top producer of valued crops,” said de Lara during the opening of the farmers’ day, a tribute to farmers for their great contribution to the local economy. (PNA)