Manggahan Festival's beauty search and photo exhibit
Manggahan sa Robinsons
Manggahan Festival thrives again this year, with activities and events lined up to promote the honor and pride of the Province of Guimaras mangga or mangoes. These activities and events are set either in the province or here in Iloilo City. One of the most frequent venue for thew festival's activities is Robinsons Place, a premier mall in the city.
For April 14, there were two activities. First, the mini fashion show that presented the beauty of the candidates for the Mutya ng Guimaras 2008. The second activity, was the Agro Trade Fair and Photo Exhibit. This particular event is said to last from April 14 19, and is located outside the grocery department of the mall.
World-class mangoes
The photo exhibit, themed Exploring Guimaras, showcased the pictures taken by the Panay Digital Shooters-an asssociation of eleven local enthusiast. This was pulled through in cooperation with the Province of Guimaras. The provincial governent paid for the photogrphers' travel fare, the materials used, however, were their own.
Paul Chongson, president of Panay Digital Shooters and head of the project, related that it took them two weekends to visit the island to gather enough photos for the exhibit. Their masterpieces spoke of deep emotion as it portrayed the beauty in everyday life, as was their intention according to Chiongson.
Varied products of Guimaras mangoes
The photos, artistic as they were, are mirrors of how the islanders lived their everyday life. The simplicity of living was portrayed dramatically in their works. A fisherman at his craft, a little boy out to do what could help his family, and the impenetratble blue of the sky along a stretching coastline, are manifestations of life people had constantly ignored or forgotten. This exhibit aims to bring back to mind the basics that show life as simply the joy in living.