Talingaan Cassava Festival highlights agri heritage and community pride
LAOAG CITY – A rural village in Laoag kicked off its first Cassava Festival with a vibrant celebration that underscored local pride, agricultural heritage, and community resilience.
Residents of Talingaan, joined by local and foreign military guests, opened the festivities with 3- and 5-kilometer fun runs, followed by a communal feast featuring linapet—a traditional Filipino delicacy made from cassava, coconut milk, and wrapped in banana leaves.
Village chief Michael Palting said the festival honors cassava as a cornerstone of the community’s identity, citing its adaptability and vital role in ensuring food security and sustaining livelihoods.
He emphasized that cassava farming has long been a primary source of income for residents, enabling many to support their families and pursue education. Palting, who also leads the village’s cassava growers’ association, noted that the crop continues to shape the economic and cultural fabric of Talingaan.
Currently, the village manages around 65 hectares of consolidated cassava plantations, excluding smaller backyard farms that produce for household consumption and local markets.
Women in the community, particularly members of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), are also gaining recognition for their cassava-based products. These include flavored chips and cassava polvoron, which are showcased in trade fairs, exhibits, and local gift centers.
With support from the Department of Agriculture and the city government, cassava growers in Talingaan aim to sustain the festival as a platform to promote their products, preserve tradition, and strengthen the local agri-economy.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
