Successful watermelon festival held in Oton, Iloilo
Photo shows; Winners in the "Biggest
Watermelon Contest", First Prize winner
Reylan Tondo of Tagbac (13 kilos
watermelon) , Second Prize Juan Haro
-- Cambuyao (12.6 kilos) and Third Prize
Ray Delos Reyes -- Obilayson, Oton
(12.53 kilos). Also in photo is Oton Vice
Mayor Vicente Flores jr., Oton Mayor
Carina Flores and East West General
Manager Mary Ann P. Sayoc
More than 500 watermelon farmers from Visayas attended the first Watermelon "Sandiya" Festival held at Oton town plaza, Oton, Iloilo last December 7, 2006. The affair was initiated by East West Seed Company in cooperation with the local government units of Iloilo and the provincial agricultural officials. Governor Niel Tupas Sr., Oton Mayor Carina Flores and East West President Joost Pekelharing, led the festivities which culminated in the awarding of the top ten watermelon farmers of Iloilo.
The top ten watermelon farmers were given recognition for their outstanding performance planting hybrid watermelon in the past five years. Their dedication, hardwork and practical approach in watermelon production helped catapult Iloilo to be the premier hybrid watermelon producer in the country. All awardees registered exemplary yield and record breaking production of hybrid watermelons. This year’s most putstanding watermelon farmers are the following; 1. Leonardo Java, Jr. --Oton, Iloilo 2. Noel Malco -- Oton, Iloilo 3. Reynaldo nandin -- Cabatuan 4. Princesita Macapobre -- Iloilo City 5. Joel Calfoforo -- Oton, Iloilo 6. Rhino Java -- Oton, Iloilo 7. Rene Figueroa -- Passi City 8. Eduardo Magbanua -- Pototan, Iloilo 9. Rodny Balayo -- Dumangas, Iloilo 10. Agapito Juadiong -- Oton, Iloilo.
Iloilo’s big, sweet, crispy and striped watermelons have become very popular throughout the country and are sought by buyers, traders and consumers. Majority of watermelons produced from Iloilo are exported to markets in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. If there is one thing unique about successful Ilonggo farmers, they all use the same seed variety named Sweet 16 from East West Seed Company. Given the right planting conditions, Sweet 16 can yield more than 30 tons per hectare. Farmers attests its superior yield, strong disease tolerance and long shelf life.
One of the highlights of the festival was the awarding of the biggest watermelon dubbed as "Pinaka-dako Sandiya Contest". The grand prize winner registered a record breaking weight of 13 kilos (Sweet 16 variety) which was planted by Reylan Tondo a farmer from Tagbac, Oton. He earned a cash prize of P5,000 and a trophy. Other winners are: second place - Juan Haro of Cambuyao, Oton; 12.56 kilos (Sweet 16 variety) who earned P3,000 cash prize and a trophy and third place Ray delos Reyes of Obilayson, Oton 12.535 kilos who earned P2,000 cash prize and a trophy.