The vibrant Zambales Mango Festival, Philippines

Zambales is a province of the Philippines in the Luzon region, with its capital in Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south, with the South China Sea to the west. It is approximately a four-hour drive from Manila. It is the second largest of the seven provinces in Luzon and is famous for its mangoes (harvest season runs from January to April).

Zambales is considered the home of some of the most delicious mangoes in the Philippines, especially the Dinamulag variety. The Dinamulag mango was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's best-tasting mango in 1995 and by the Philippine Department of Agriculture as the best mango in the country in 2013. These recognitions led to the Zambales Mango Festival being held there since 1999.

At the Zambales Mango Festival, various businesses and industrial products derived from mangoes are showcased, such as mango vinegar, mango candy, mango wine, mango tarts, pickled mangoes, etc., contributing to increased income for local residents. Governor Amor Deloso of Zambales shared: “The government and people of Zambales are not just focused on mango cultivation. We want this place to become the most attractive tourist destination in the Philippines.”

Alongside the main festival, various recreational activities are organized around the theme "The World's Best Mango Flavor," such as: an exhibition of local products featuring different mango flavors from various growing regions in Zambales, a mango eating contest, etc. During the festival days, cultural and historical activities are also held concurrently to attract tourists, such as: the Zambales Traditional Festival, the Zambales Beauty Contest, etc.

The festival also features street dancers dressed in mango-inspired costumes, and uniquely decorated floats resembling boats moving on land. These floats are decorated according to the characteristics of different regions of Zambales; for example, the float from San Marcelino (a municipality in Zambales) is adorned with white radishes, Indian mangoes, Hawaiian mangoes, and more.

Omar Deloso, head of the Zambales Mango Festival organizing committee, couldn't hide his pride: "Zambales is one of the most popular summer destinations not only because of its beautiful, clean, and romantic beaches, but also because of its sweet and unique Dinamulag mangoes."

At the 20th Zambales Mango Festival, under the artistic direction of the talented director Ginoong Millenials, the festival scene was even more spectacular and vibrant. This further attracted a large number of international tourists to experience it. The climate in Zambales is divided into two seasons: the dry season from October to June and the rainy season from July to September. Currently, it is the dry season, which is very suitable for Zambales to hold the festival and attract tourists.

The Phong