14 towns to join the Ubi Fest 2023 next month
The famous Ubi Festival in the Province of Bohol showcasing the different varieties of Ubi, especially the Ubi
Kinampay has drawn interest from the known Ubi growing municipalities to participate in this year’s festivity.
There are about 14 towns in this agricultural province that manifested their intention to join the three-day Ubi
Festival slated on December 4-6, 2023 at the Bohol Cultural Center Ground, in this city.
The 14 towns are the following: Carmen, Pilar, Ubay, Cortes, Corella, Baclayon, Tagbilaran City, Antequera,
Garcia Hernandez, Valencia, Dimiao, San Miguel and San Isidro.
Bringing the theme “Ubi, Hamiling Lagutmon Kaabag sa mga Bol-anon Niining Hagit sa Panahon“, the
celebration underscored the importance of Ubi in this time of climate change as an alternative crop of rice in line
with the mandate of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist
(OPA) of ensuring food sufficiency and security, and increase income among Boholano farmers.
The celebration is highlighted with the Miss Ubi 2023 and other contests with prizes at stake namely: Best Ubi
Float Parade, Best Product Display, Highest Volume/Sales of Ubi, Most Participative LGU, Pinaka (biggest) on
Different Ubi Varieties (Kinampay, Baligonhon, Kabus-ok, Tam-isan, Binugas, Gimnay, Iniling, and Binanag), Best
New Ubi Processed Products, Best Re-Enactment Ubi Cultural Practices, Ubi Jingle Contest, Best Farmers
Rondalla, Best Christmas Singing Contest, and Best Ubi Vlog/Video Contest.
The festival shall be started with a colorful Ubi Float Parade Contest from the Capitol Grounds – New Capitol
Site Road – Hangos St. – J. A. Clarin – City Hall – Old Capitol Building – CPG Avenue – down to the Bohol
Cultural Center which is the venue of the activity.
In the opening program, Governor Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado will deliver his inspirational message as
Vice–Governor Dionisio Victor A. Balite, Representative Edgar M. Chatto (1 st District), Rep. Maria Vanessa C.
Aumentado (2 nd Dist.), Rep. Kristine Alexie B. Tutor (3 rd Dist.), Director Angel C. Enriquez, CESO lll (Regional
Executive Director, Department of Agriculture – 7), Dr. Gracia F. Arado (Agricultural Training Institute – 7), and
Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio (Bohol Ubi Center Foundation, Inc.) will give their messages of support; while City
Mayor Jane Censoria Cajes Yap will give the welcome message and Provincial AQgriculturist Liza M. Quirog will
state the rationale and acknowledge the guests and participants.
The judging of the Miss Ubi Festival shall commence at the start of the Ubi Float Parade wherein there are three
judging stations to be put up at the route of the parade down to the Bohol Cultural Center.
At the center, the muses will make a dramatic entrance going up to the stage and introducing themselves and
saying something about their advocacy towards the Ubi industry in Bohol. The coronation will be conducted right
after Gov. Aumentado could deliver his inspirational message.
Other Ubi Festival contests will be done on the second day (Dec. 5, 2023) which will be started at 8:30 in the
morning.
The 3-day fest will wind up on December 6, 2023, as the Closing and Awarding ceremony will start at 1:30 p.m.
and as such Gov. Aumentado will lead the provincial officials in giving the awards of the winners.
The PGBh through the OPA has conducted the Ubi Festival this year twice as the first one was last January as the
usual conduct of the festival based on the approved Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution. But the holding of such
an annual activity of the provincial government has changed through an ordinance passed last June declaring that the
Ubi Festival shall be conducted on the second week of December every year. However, considering that the
Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) would be very busy in attending Christmas parties and other
occasions during the Yuletide Season on the 2 nd week of December, it was decided that the festival shall be
conducted on the first week. By Atoy Cosap
