By Joycel Lagrio, STRATCOM Correspondent

Reigniting pride in Ilocos garlic, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), brought back the Garlic Festival on April 10-11 at the MMSU Student Center.

With the theme “Innovating the Future of Ilocos Norte’s Pride: Reinvigorating the Garlic Industry in Ilocos,” the event featured a variety of competitions and forums, engaging youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, and creatives alike.

MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. explained that the “White Gold” garlic carries the scent of Ilokano pride: pungent and powerful. “This festival is a tribute to our farmers and to everyone who believes in the power of this humble bulb,” he said.

In the Creative Garlic Arrangement contest, which transformed garlic into a medium of art reflecting its beauty and cultural value, the City of Batac emerged as the champion, winning the P5,000 top prize. The Municipality of Bacarra took second place with P3,000, and the Municipality of Dingras secured third place with P2,000.

Showcasing garlic’s versatility in the kitchen, MMSU students claimed all top prizes in the Garlic Masters: A Culinary Clash. The College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy won first place and P8,000, the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development earned second place and P6,000, and the College of Industrial Technology took third place with P4,000.

In the farmers’ and women’s category of the cook festival, Vir-hills Farm of Burgos took first place and P8,000, while Federated Batac RIC came second with P6,000.

To honor farmers in the garlic industry, the Largest and Best Quality Garlic competition awarded Danilo Paz of Pasuquin the top prize of P5,000. Fellow Pasuquin farmer Vicente Bagaoisan placed second with P3,000, and Aurelio Corpuz of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, earned third with P2,000.

The festival also embraced digital creativity through the Garlic Power: A TikTok Contest, promoting the garlic industry via fun and educational short videos. Victoria Morales and Angel Larice Panlilio won first place and P5,000, while Karen Aguinaldo and Joaquin Jairus Salenda took second with P3,000, and James Pungtilan and Samuel Christian Valenzuela rounded out the top three with P2,000.

In the Same Event Edit video competition, Joseph Ansino, Jabriel Acoba, and Gian Carlo Corrales claimed the top spot and P5,000. The team of Brennan Miguel Paterno Carpio, Dhanie John Padulip, and Paulene Paglumotan secured second place with P3,000, while Clark Ramos, Denmark Abalos, and Ashley Dela Cruz earned third place with P2,000.

Meanwhile, the Booth Competition added a vibrant and informative element to the event. Bacarra was awarded Best Booth, receiving a multi-cultivator as a prize. Laoag City earned first runner-up with a water pump and irrigation hose, the Municipality of Vintar secured second runner-up with a power sprayer and plastic drum, and Burgos took third runner-up, winning two knapsack sprayers and two bags of Yara fertilizer. Consolation prizes of a sprayer and a bag of fertilizer were given to the towns of Pasuquin, Dingras, Paoay, Pinili, Badoc, Batac, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Bangui, and PGIN-Kadiwa.

In addition to the competitions, a farmers' forum was held, where MMSU Extension Directorate Director Marilou Lucas provided insights on the current situation and future outlook of the garlic industry. MMSU Research Directorate Director Dionisio Bucao shared best production practices, while Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Technical Consultant Hideto Daiko and Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) Taiwan Project Leader Eric Chen presented their ongoing garlic projects.

A business matching and investment forum was also conducted, with Engr. Chonito Baldovi from the Provincial Agriculture Office outlining an investment plan for garlic. MMSU experts, including Prof. James Patric Acang, discussed a garlic digital application, Prof. Buchard Cutin explained the process and product optimization of black garlic as a flavor enhancer, and Dr. Cristina Valentin spoke about a low-cost village garlic storage facility.

The 2025 Garlic Festival was co-sponsored by the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium, various government agencies, local garlic associations, private sector sponsors, the Taiwan ICDF, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development, JICA, and Takara Inc.

The festival was first launched in 2001 under the leadership of Dr. Miriam Pascua, who was then the president of MMSU. Additionally, March was declared "Garlic Month" through Provincial Resolution No. 096-2002 during the term of then-Governor, and current Philippine President, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Ilocos Norte is recognized as the "garlic capital" of the Philippines, producing 76.51% of the country’s garlic, based on government data from 2022. Since 2017, MMSU has housed the Garlic Research Center, playing a leading role in garlic research and development in the Ilocos region.

#MMSU#SUCCEEMMSU#2025GarlicFestival

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