SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – This city has on Tuesday, April 24, launched a festival showcasing its top two products -- mango and bamboo – until April 29. Although admittedly the city’s mango industry has not fully recovered since it was hit by typhoons and pests, still the city, under Mayor Julier Resuello, is excited about the festival that hopefully will give the residents and farmers something to cheer on. The mayor recalled that in 2009, a typhoon damaged at least 60 percent of their fruit-bearing trees, and aggravated by an attack by pests known as ‘kurikong,’ and cecid fly or gall midge. Such infestation threatened the mango farm across the country. The insect pest is known as 'saksak walis' or 'kurikong' in Luzon. Mayor Resuello said he has been coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to address this problem. “Binibigyan kami ng seedlings para makarekober pero ang choice namin ay ang aming variety na kilala sa lugar," the mayor said. He is still optimistic that there will be more research on the breed of their mango to maintain the unique taste and quality and help from the national government and other concerned agencies to regain their former glory. Another products that will be in full display in the four-day festival are the bamboo handicraft. The festival will be highlighted with various activities, including a Thanksgiving Mass, Bamboo-han ed Baley, the Mango-Bamboo Festival Street Dancing Competition, Agri livestock expo and the Miss San Carlos 2023 beauty pageant. (Liezle Basa Inigo)