Mammangi Festival in Ilagan, Isabela

Honors Farmers Ahead of Livable City Status Goal of 2030

words & images by Marky Ramone Go

When one talks about Philippine Festivals, what immediately comes to mind are the pulsating energy of Sinulog in Cebu, the primal rhythm of Dinagyang in Iloilo, the drumming beats of Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, the vibrant masks of Masskara in Bacolod, the blossoming beauty of Panagbenga in Baguio, the enchanting allure of Zamboanga’s Hermoso, and the bountiful celebration of Kadayawan in Davao, among others. Upon exploring further however, one can easily uncover plenty of other jovial celebrations in smaller cities and even towns across the Philippine archipelago.

The Mammangi Festival in Ilagan, Isabela, is one such shared celebration among townsfolks that’s unlike other bigger and fancy festivals, but just the same as traditional Philippine festivals goes, it’s got heart. It’s a spectacle that shows love and respect for the unsung heroes of this city, the farmers, and their golden crop, corn. The festival is dedicated to celebrating the resilience of the city of Ilagan, which has overcome numerous challenges and is now striving to become a model city for the future.

A Celebration Realized in the Corn-nick of Time

The Mammangi Festival was derived from the word “mangui,” which translates to “corn” in the language of the Ibanag people. The festival was originally conceived as a celebration of thanksgiving and takes place on the same week as the feast of Ilagan’s patron Saint Ferdinand of Castille, which falls on May 30th.
However, this year, the festival faced a major setback when Typhoon Betty struck the northern part of Luzon, including Isabela, during its scheduled dates. The devastating impact of the typhoon almost led to the complete cancellation of the festival.

Fortunately, under the leadership of Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz, the city government was able to come up with a new schedule for the Mammangi Festival just in time before the current year ends. It was then pushed back to coincide with the week of the 11th anniversary of the cityhood of Ilagan, which falls on August 11.

From August 1 to 13, both residents and visitors enjoyed a variety of grand celebrations, concerts, festive events, bazaars, pageantry, and more. The festivities reached its zenith with an exhilarating street and modern dancing competition, as well as a musical performance by OPM icons like Celeste Legazpi, Dulce, and Gino Padilla held at the city’s sports complex, which was witnessed live by tens of thousands of people.

A total of eight groups, representing clusters of Barangays, participated in the Street Dance and Modern Dance Showdown. The Poblacion 2 cluster emerged as the winners in both categories, followed by San Antonio 2 and Poblacion 1, which secured the 1st and 2nd Runner-up positions in both categories as well.
There was no shortage of fun the whole week of the festival as the night before, a large crowd descended on the sports complex to witness the city’s new beauty queen being crowned. Kristine Joy D. Guzman of Barangay Marana I emerged victorious, surpassing the other candidates to claim the title of Binibining Ilagan 2023.

The pageant, hosted by Beatrice Luigi Gomez, the 2021 Miss Universe Philippines, and GMA’s Carlo Tingcungco, featured a surprising musical performance by actor James Reid, much to the delight of the screaming audience.

Children of the Corn

In the latter part of the 16th century, the Ibanag people who originally settled in the northern part of Cagayan River began moving south towards what is now the Isabela province. Rice and vegetable farming became the cornerstones of the local economy. When the tobacco monopoly was instituted by the Spanish in the early 1780s and local Ibanag farmers were compelled to produce tobacco, they had to shift their agricultural focus from rice to corn because the growing season for corn interchanges with that of tobacco. With the arrivals of settlers from the Ilocos region and Central Luzon, Isabela’s farmlands, and Ilagan in particular, rose to prominence as an ideal location for the cultivation of rice and corn.

Today, the city of Ilagan has gained recognition as the “Corn Capital of the Philippines.” It boasts an impressive annual corn production of 150 to 170 metric tons, cultivated across its vast expanse of over 17,500 hectares of corn fields.

The economic contribution of Ilagan to the country is so substantial that the local government, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, has taken steps to establish an I-Corn Complex. This complex will serve as a central research and development facility for all aspects of corn farming and harvesting. The project includes the implementation of innovative farming techniques such as mechanical drying and the use of drone technology to enhance the practice of “smart farming.”

In addition to the research and development hub, a corn processing centre will be constructed specifically for the production of livestock feed. The implementation of the iCorn Complex could potentially increase the annual corn harvest from twice a year to three times a year.

Mammangi Festival in Ilagan, Isabela

A Celebration Realized in the Corn-nick of Time

Children of the Corn

Onward to a Livable City by 2030