The province of Catanduanes, the country’s largest producer of abaca fiber or Manila hemp, recently held the annual Abaca Festival to showcase its main product which has been a prime commodity since the Spanish-era galleon trade.
The province has more than 36,744 hectares of abaca plantation which produced 18,003 metric tons last year, accounting for almost a third of the total output of the Philippines.
Key events in the five-day fest which was a hybrid of physical and online activities were a trade fair, agricultural forum, competitions on indigenous poem reading, arch and façade designs, and the Festival Queen Competition.
In photo are municipal contingents in abaca-inspired costumes executing street dances in the Virtual Dance Showdown, one of the highlight events.
(Contributed photo)