The three-day Ubi Festival 2018 originally scheduled on January 30-February 1, 2018 has been indefinitely postponed paving the way to finish the necessary preparations to ensure success of the celebration.
Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas said the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has already informed the municipal mayors and the municipal agricultural officers/municipal agriculturists through sending letters, Bohol Law Enforcement Communications System (BLECS) and telephone call brigade regarding the postponement.
Pamugas emphasized that they will be formally informed as soon as the dates will be finally slated.
The Ubi Festival has been conducted annually by the PGBh to recognize and award the Ubi growers who have sustained the Ubi industry in Bohol.
Furthermore, the said occasion also serves as a gathering of local Ubi growers and investors; representatives from national government agencies, national government organizations, people’s organization; processors, academe and institutions to exchange ideas for the development of Ubi industry in the province.
Among the contests, only the Farmer’s Eddie Peregrina Voice Alike was changed to Farmer’s Yoyoy Villame Voice Alike to revive the novelty songs of the famous Boholano novelty singer Yoyoy Villame of the town of Calape.
The biggest Ubi tuber harvested in each variety in Pinaka (biggest) Contest and Ubi and other Endemic Crops Production Technology Fora will highlight the three-day affair to be held at the Bohol Cultural Center.
The Pinaka Contest holds the biggest Kinampay, Baligonhon, Kabus-ok, Binanag, Gimnay, Binato, Iniling, and Tam-isan with prizes at P3,000 each; while the Crops Production Technology Fora will be conducted by Amancia Medellin an Ubi expert to be participated by the K-12 students of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School.
Other contests are Best Ubi Booth/Ubi Exhibit: 1st prize- P8,000, 2nd P6,000 and 3rd P4,000; Benignit Eating (1st-P2,500, 2nd-P2,000, 3rd-P1,500); Ubi Challenge Eating (1st-P2,500, 2nd P2,000, 3rd P1,500); Indigenous/Endemic Crops Technology (1st-P3,000, 2nd-P2,000, 3rd-P1,000) and Farmers Eddie Perigrina Voice Alike (1st-P3,000, 2nd-2,000, 3rd-P1,000).
The Ubi Balak for farmers and students categories (1st-P4,000, 2nd-P3,000, 3rd-P2,000 to each of the category); Ubi Kuradang for farmers and students categories (1st-P5,000, 2nd-P4,000,P3rd-P3,000 each of the category); Ubi Rap/Jingle (1st-P5,000,2nd-P4,000,3rd-P3,000); and Bugno sa Rondalya contests (1st-P10,000,2nd-P7,000, 3rd-P5,000).
Provincial Executive Director Leo P. Cañeda, Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 and Governor Edgar M. Chatto will lead other officials in Bohol to deliver their messages in the opening program.
The 18th Ubi Festival bearing the theme “Ubi, Hamiling Lagutmon Ikapasigarbo sa mga Turista sa Tanang Panahon” will kick off with a motorcade from the OPA at the Capitol Annex Building, Dao, Tagbilaran City down to the Bohol Cultural Center wherein the opening and the awarding and closing ceremonies will be held as the center of all the activities of the festival. (Atoy Cosap)