Land travel to the Queen Province of the North, Isabela, may take a whole day or more, but it is always worth it.
With a vast 33,500 hectares of production areas for corn (which had already been harvested when the Manila media arrived), the city's various development and infrastructure projects were evident. New roads and bridges were being built, while tourism sites were undergoing repair and improvement.
Multi-billion dollar development projects await the City of Ilagan as its forward-looking top executive, Josemarie L. Diaz, known as "The Working Mayor," was busy meeting investors even during the festival.
Founded in 1686 and proclaimed the capital town of the Province of Isabela in 1856, Ilagan has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. Overcoming its struggles as a municipality, Ilagan gained cityhood in 2012, prompting the city government to work on plans to further the improvement and development of the city.
‘Liveable City of Ilagan 2030: Isinasapuso ng bawat Ilagueno’
Named the official festival in 2011, the City of Ilagan has crafted events and activities to pay tribute to its mammangi (corn farmers) and their heroic hard work in the fields, which accounts for the long-standing stature of the City of Ilagan as the Corn Capital of the Philippines.
Likewise, Mammangi Festival aims to promote and market the City of Ilagan through excellent locally-made products toward creating more employment opportunities; to foster unity among its communities toward greater socio-economic and cultural development; and, to showcase, promote, and preserve the rich cultural heritage, resiliency, and industry of Ilagueños.
This year's celebration was set to continue the vision for a liveable city with every Ilagueño upholding the sense of pride and love for the city. The grand festivity happened on April 26 to May 11, 2024, and was aptly themed “City of Ilagan 2030: Isinasapuso Ng Bawat Ilagueño.”
City-wide activities included investors meeting and contract signing with Mayor Diaz, the much-awaited Tienda Ilagan, Tour of Agri-Ecotourism Village, Cultural Olympics, Binibining Ilagan Grand Finals and Coronation Night, Liga ng mga Barangay Night with the awarding of barangay achievements, Festival Street Dance and Showdown Competitions, and the Gawad Ilagueño and Grand Concert.
Multi-billion development projects
Over a billion pesos worth of renewable energy, manufacturing, and cold chain industry projects have been lined up for Ilagan. During the media conference, Mayor Diaz announced that the Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group Company, Ltd. is set to invest more than P1.8 billion in a large animal feed milling facility in the city.
"In two months, the construction of the animal feed mill will begin. The feed mill is incorporated in the 10 hectares of land they acquired. This will be the biggest feed mill in Northern Luzon as their Central Luzon operation is already saturated. Almost all our farmers will benefit from this project," Diaz said.
Diaz also revealed that Igloo Supply Chain Philippines, Inc. has entered into an agreement with the local government to invest in the construction of cold chain facilities. The agreement was sealed on May 4 in commemoration of the 338th Aggaw na Ilagan (the founding anniversary of Ilagan).
Saving the corn, helping the farmers
Officers from the city government said they were lucky to anticipate the ill effects of the El Niño phenomenon, stating that only a minimal number of their farmers were affected by the wrath of the dry season.
"We anticipated the El Niño phenomenon as our farmers had planted corn and rice from November up until December 2023. After four months of the planting season, our farmers have already harvested the crops before the onset of El Niño this year," said Ilagan City Public Information Officer Pastor Paul Bacungan during a media briefing.
For his part, Antonio Jun Montereal Jr. of the city council said although a small number of farmers were hit by the rise of the temperature, the LGU continues to provide subsidies to farmers such as the distribution of seeds and financial assistance to those affected farmers.
Moreover, the City of Ilagan also produces high-value commercial crops such as vegetables, fruits, and cassava.
"Agricultural facilities provided by the city government such as innovation centers, irrigation facilities, and post-harvest facilities, agricultural machinery such as harvesters, tractors and transplanters, and annual provision of seeds and fertilizers for farmers contributed to production of quality crops," according to Bacungan.
No wonder, one of the salient features of Mammangi Festival 2024 was the awarding of monetary benefits for the farmers and scholarship grants for their children. On May 5, tobacco farmers were handed down cash benefits while ACES scholars, including the farmers’ children studying outside of Ilagan, were also given their stipend.
Fun events from the LGU to the Ilagueños– including grand concerts featuring Manila’s finest artists–took place during the festival to the delight of every true blue bloodied Ilagueño.