LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY (PIA5/Albay)---The Local Government  Unit of Camalig is well known for their special and unique Pinangat delicacy,  the reason for a much-anticipated  Pinangat festival comes June. 

‘’Camalig's Pinangat Festival is set to resume from June 10 to 24, after more than a 3-year halt due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,’’ Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo said.

Being one of the town's pride, the Pinangat festival aims to highlight and reflect their culture, tradition, arts, and heritage.

According to Baldo, Municipal Tourism & Cultural Heritage Office (MTCHO) is preparing the activities for the said event.

‘’Pinangat Festival is set to feature localized events such as Pinangat-Making Race, Longest Line of Pinangat Eating, Mutya ng Camalig and installation of important cultural property (ICP) markers at St. John the Baptist Parish,’’ Baldo said.

Of course, there are more activities to look forward to in the two-week long Pinangat festival.

‘’We have historical talks, "Camalig Kulinarya '' Trade and Travel Fair, battle of the bands, enduro cross competition, fun bike and MTB race, parades and processions, funshoot, and more,’’ Baldo added.

Baldo also announced that the MTCHO plans to hold sectoral activities which includes senior citizen’s night, SK night and barangay night which aims ‘’to further highlight LGU-Camalig's inclusive approach in community participation,’’ Baldo noted.

Pinangat festival also coincides with the town's fiesta in honor of the town’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist.

The organizers said that they will ensure that the said event will provide a unique ambiance, taste, happiness and a sense of unity that the  public will surely enjoy.

The festival started in June 2000 and was recognized as the town’s official festival through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution number 0022 – 2012 and Municipal Ordinance No. 2016-10.

The community is encouraged to join and actively participate in the  activities especially to showcase their skills in Pinangat-making.

Pinangat as generational wealth in Camalig

On February 27, LGU-Camalig held a culinary activity for students on Pinangat-processing led by MTCHO that aims to preserve and continue their well known dish.

‘’More or less 50 students coming from schools with Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) classes including Camalig National High School (NHS), Cotmon NHS, Caguiba NHS, Bariw NHS, and Dominical School, SJA have attended the said activity,’’ Baldo said.

Kim Ashley De Castro, a student from Camalig NHS said that the activity had a two-day program.

‘’On the first day, they conducted an orientation on how to make Pinangat and they also asociated the stories behind it with our ancestors,’’ De Castro said.

De Castro added  that  the participants from five schools including her, cooked their Pinangat recipe during the competition for the ‘tastiest Pinangat’ during the second day. 

She said that she’s proud of being a Camalignun and learning the dish for the first time as well as winning the said competition with her companions. It made her happier, she enthused. 

In addition to her Pinangat-making journey was the acquired knowledge that is embedded in her.

‘’The culinary activity further underscores the importance of youth participation especially in nourishing distinct, culture and heritage-based practices with the end goal of developing them as proud, adaptive agents of local tourism and economy development, also to further promote the culture behind Camalig's most celebrated dish,’’ Baldo said.

‘’It was in line with the "One Town, One Product" Program, which seeks to equip students with essential know-hows in Pinangat-processing, from placing and mixing of ingredients, folding and sealing, to the actual presentation,’’ Baldo added.

Pinangat is not only a dish for lunch or dinner, De Castro noted that one of the objectives of the activity is ’’to learn how to make Pinangat as  a business endeavor.’’

Tourists from other places who will pay a visit in Camalig can witness the neighboring Pinangat stores within the town.

De Castro noted that she will surely share the knowledge that she learned from the activity.

‘’We, the youth that belongs to the new generation, are the hope of our society. If  we will be able to embrace our own culture, we will  also able to help (our community) and make our ancestors proud of having us,’’ De Castro said.

Cover photo courtesy of Camalig Vice Mayor Maria Ahrdail 'Ding' Baldo