The Province of Zambales welcomed summer with the recent holding of the Dinamulag Festival to celebrate the harvest of its sweet-tasting mango variety and the formal opening of the travel season.
And what better way to have a sizzling summer is to bring forward a bevy of home-grown charmers and a grand assemblage beauty titlists and celebrities with the Renee Salud-organized Binibining Zambales which crowned the province’s ambassadresses of goodwill and tourism
The stars seem to have descended on earth and converged at Zambales Sports Center. Some acted as celebrity judges, while others were performers. Beauty queens were also among the glittery guests like Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2002 Karen Loren Agustin, Binibining Pilipinas-Supranatural 2015 Rogelie Catacutan, International Beauty & Model Festival 2009 grand winner April Love Jordan, Binibining Pilipinas International 2015 Janicel Lubina, Marco Poli, international makeup artist and beauty expert James Cooper, Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 3 winner Bryan Termulo, The Voice of the Philippines sensations Jem Cubil and Daryl Ong, Cerenados and Chcickser.
Topping the pageant emceed by Fil-Norwegian Markki Stroem is Christine Juliane Opiaza of Castillejos town. Other contestants that shined in the prestigious quest were runner-ups Elaiza Dee Alzona of Botolan, Natasha Galo of San Felipe, Joanna Marie Rabe of Iba, and Mharyel Tapia of Subic.
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane said that the festival is training the spotlight on the “dinamulag” mango, a sweet variety of the mango fruit the province is known for.
He also spelled out the gains of the local tourism industry, one of the cornerstones of his administration in his annual Ulat sa Bayan.
Zambales has been named by the Department of Tourism as one of the country’s top domestic destinations for tourists and excursionists.
The municipal governments also showcased their tourist spots and One Town, One Product goods composed native delicacies, mango-based processed food stuff, home and fashion accessories, and other cottage industries.
The centerpiece of the festivity was the float parade and street dancing competition with contingents of revelers dressed in mango-inspired costumes and floats depicting the people’s rural way of life.
Zambales is popular for its fine sand beaches, idyllic islands such as Capones, Magalawa, San Salvador, Hermana Menor and Potipot. It also takes pride in its charming coves such as the pine tree-dotted Anawangin Cove, Uacon, Nagsasa and Silangin spread across the West Philippine Sea.
Adrenaline junkies can ride the waves at the famed San Narciso and San Antonio surfing spots, or skimboard in Iba’s seven-kilometer beachfront, dubbed as Luzon’s “beach capital”.
For a dash of indigenous culture, visitors can immerse with Aeta communities to get a taste of their way of life and tantalizing tribal music.
Zambales is also dotted by historic spots such as the Iba Cathedral Ecclesiastical Museum, Museo de Iba-Roque del Fiero Heritage House, and century-old churches, most notably Sta. Monica in Botolan, and Holy Cross in Sta. Cruz, and San Andres Church in Masinloc, which was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum.