SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- Farmers and cooks from the municipality of San Jose filled the municipal compound with colors and flavors to celebrate a bountiful harvest in the Pamag-uhan sa Pandurucan Harvest Festival 2024 amidst the El Niño phenomenon.

Pamag-uhan sa Pandurucan, a Hanunuo-Mangyan term that translates to salu-salo or fiest as explained by the Municipal Tourism Office (MTO), is one of the culminating activities for the celebration of the 114th founding anniversary of the municipality of San Jose. 

“Ang Pamag-uhan sa Pandurucan…ay tunay po na pagdiriwang ng masaganang ani ng ating pong mga magsasaka, mangingisda, ng atin pong mga katutubong mangyan at mga lokal na mangangalakal,” Anne Roxanne de Vera of MTO said

(The Pamag-uhan sa Pandurucan is truly a celebration of the bountiful harvest of our farmers, fisherfolk, natives, and local traders.)

One of the activities featured in the harvest festival is the inter-barangay best dressed booth competition, which, which were participated by six barangays: Monteclaro, Central, Mapaya, Mabini, Ansiray, and Murtha.

The booths were adorned with intricate designs made from bamboo, sawali, and vegetables and fruits abundant in their areas. It also served as a stall where visitors can purchase agricultural products from local farmers as the festival includes an Agri-Trade Fair to promote each barangay’s agricultural haul further.

Some of the products sold at the trade fair are talaba, salt, bahay kubo vegetables, and fruits such as banana, and coconut.

“Alam kong dalawang banta ang kasalukuyang nararanasan ng San Jose: banta ng El Niño phenomenon at banta ng virus na [African Swine Fever.] Subalit sa kabila po ng mga banta na ito, ramdam po natin sa bayan ng San Jose ang presensya at biyaya ng Panginoon, partikular ang ating patrong si San Jose, ang manggagawa,” Municipal Agriculturist Romel Calingasan said.

(I know that San Jose is currently experiencing two threats: the El Niño phenomenon and the African Swine Fever. However, despite these two challenges, we can feel the presence and blessing of our Lord, particularly our patron, Saint Joseph, the worker.)

Calingasan added that while these two problems affect the agriculture sector, other commodities continue to flourish.

A testament to this is the Pinaka competition, where the biggest, heaviest, and maximum number of fruits or vegetables in one branch were recognized. People were especially thrilled seeing the 1.7kg singkamas and the 11-inches eggplant.

In a separate interview, the municipal agriculturist explained that one of the farmers’ practices to produce crops despite the El Niño is to use early maturing varieties of seeds.

“Kapag maigsi ang maturity niya, maigsing panahon mo lang siyang aanihin…Halimbawa, sabay-sabay kayong nagtanim, kung early maturing ‘yung seeds at 100 days lang, compare mo sa 120 days, may 20 days o mahigit kalahating buwan ang difference kumpara sa ibang variety na mas matagal ang ani at mas maraming tubig ang kailangan,” Calingasan said.

Moreover, the Municipal Agriculture Office conducted technical briefings with the farmers before planting season to inform the farmers of the expected effects of the phenomenon.

“Bago kami namigay ng seeds ng palay, bago kami namigay ng seeds ng onion, sinabayan namin ‘yon ng orientation o technical briefing na ang San Jose ay posibleng kasama talaga [sa maaapektuhan ng El Niño], so ‘wag nilag balewalain [at dapat bigyang] konsiderayson sa pagpaplano sa pagtatanim,” he shared.

The LGU had distributed quick response and mitigation interventions to farmers at the onset of the El Niño, amounting to P 2,374,400.

Adding to the thrill of the event is the longganisa cooking contest, where 22 participants added a twist to the town’s famous pasalubong item.

Contestants used longganisa as their main ingredient. Some of the dishes created were lumpiang longganisa, longganisa cream pasta, burrito, and tacos for the snacks category, and rellenong longganisa, and longganisa kare-kare, sinigang, and caldereta for the main dish.

The Pamag-uhan sa Pandurucan is one of the kick-off activities for the week-long celebration of the municipality’s 144th founding anniversary on May 1. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA - Occidental Mindoro)