Agri-Ecotourism Tienda Ilagan Ribbon Cutting and Grand opening
Negosentro | City of Ilagan journey towards a Liveable City 2030 | The highly anticipated Mammangi Festival of 2024 in Ilagan, Isabela promises to be a spectacular showcase of culture, tradition, and community spirit. This annual event, steeped in history and significance, is a celebration like no other, drawing in locals and visitors alike to partake in the vibrant festivities.
As the heart of Isabela province, Ilagan is proud to host this grand event, which pays homage to the rich heritage of the region. The Mammangi Festival serves as a platform to honor the past, celebrate the present, and look towards the future with hope and optimism. Mammangi is an Ibanag term denoting the City of Ilagan’s Corn Farmers. Additionally, it encompasses the entirety of the procedure involving land preparation, cultivation, livestock rearing, harvesting, drying, and the sale of corn, the primary agricultural product of the municipality, in addition to vegetables, legumes, palay, and tobacco. Being observed as an expression of gratitude for a bountiful harvest, the Mammangi Festival “honors the farmers, who have long been considered the true foundation and backbone of Ilagan’s economy.
Vision for a Liveable City by 2030 The festival’s theme for this year, “Liveable City of Ilagan 2030: Isinasapuso Ng Bawat Ilagueño,” is indicative of a collective aspiration to transform Ilagan into a more livable city by 2030. Improvements to the quality of life for all residents, effective governance, and socio-economic and cultural development are all part of this vision. From April 26 to May 11, 2024, the festival encompassed a variety of events, including the eagerly anticipated Festival Street Dance and Gawad Ilagueño honors, as well as investor meetings and cultural exhibitions.
Mammangi Festival is not just about entertainment and indulgence – it is also a time for reflection and gratitude. Throughout the event, there are opportunities for the community to come together and give thanks for the blessings they have received, as well as to pray for a prosperous future for themselves and their loved ones. The festivities commenced with a mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ric Zeus E. Angobung at Friendship Park in Bagumbayan on May 4, 2024.
During the Barangay Night event, the contributions and dedication of the barangays in ensuring peaceful progress and a better future for Ilagan were recognized. The following barangays were awarded Outstanding Barangay Awards for their exemplary performance in various areas: Brgy. Lullutan for Disaster Preparedness, Brgy. Osmena for Financial Management, Brgy. Bliss Village for Environmental Management and Sanitation, Brgy. Calamangui 1st for Sustainable Education, Brgy. Cabisera 3 for Social Protection, Brgy. Sta Isabel Sur for Youth Development, Brgy. Alinguigan 2nd for Health Compliance and Responsiveness, Brgy. Cabisera 10 for Tourism Development, Brgy. Baligatan for Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, and Brgy. Alibagu for Safety, Peace, and Order.
With such recognition, local government units strive harder to further improve their public services. Everyone was amazed by the dazzling barangay night made even more joyful by guest artists Wally Bayola and Allan K from GMA Kapuso.
Philippines’ Corn Festival
One of the main highlights of the festival is the traditional Mammangi dance, a captivating performance that tells the story of the town’s origins and the struggles and triumphs of its people. The dancers, adorned in colorful costumes and intricate headdresses, move in perfect harmony to the beat of drums and the sound of traditional instruments, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that captivates the audience.
For this Mammangi Festival 2024, the most awaited part also is the dance contest that was held at Ilagan Sports Complex. The 8 clusters (Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Western 1, Western 2, Northeastern 1, Northeastern 2, San Antonio 1, and San Antonio 2) showed their jaw dropping performances in front of Ilagueños. Over 800 Streetdancers from 4 Cluster Regions of the City, and 1,200 Dancers from Isabela National Highschool vowed the estimated 15,000 visitors and more who attended the Mammangi Festival 2024. While watching their performance, full emotions and power was experienced for each cluster. No words can explain that the youth Ilagueños are very talented.
The event also featured a “Liveable City Musical where some Kapamilya Singers, and First Grand Champiion of Pinoy Pop Superstar ‘Jonalyn Viray’, and other guest singers and groups performed before the Ilagueños, showcasing a Mammangi Medley arranged for this year’s Musical.
They also awarded Cash Prizes and Mammangi Trophies to the winners of different contested events, including the winners of the Mammangi Festival Streetdance Competition and Mammangi Festival Overall Champion.
Agri Eco Tourism Booth
Category A
- 2nd Runner Up – Poblacion 2
- 1st Runner Up – San Antonio 1
- Champion – Western 1
Category B
- 2nd Runner Up – Dept. of Agriculture
- 1st Runner Up – Sagittarian
- Champion – ISELCO 2
Street Dance Competition
- 3rd Runner Up – Poblacion 1
- 2nd Runner Up – Western 1
- 1st Runner Up – San Antonio 2
- Champion – Poblacion 2
Showdown Competition
- 3rd Runner Up – San Antonio 1
- 2nd Runner Up – San Antonio 2
- 1st Runner Up – Poblacion 1
- Champion – Poblacion 2
Overall Winner
- 2nd Runner Up – Western 1
- 1st Runner Up – San Antonio 2/Western 2
- Champion – Poblacion 2
Mammangi Festival Overall Champion Poblacion 2
You will see on the face of other clusters the smile and happiness that even they were not the winners of the competition they were still happy and even gave a round of applause to all the finalists in Mammangi Festival 2024.
2024 Binibining Ilagan Grand Coronation Event
This year, 20 beautiful women were competing for Binibining Ilagan 2024, where attendees filled the City of Ilagan Sports Complex in the province of Isabela on the evening of May 6 to witness the spectacular and highly anticipated event of the Mammangi Festival 2024. All of them are gorgeous, but only 5 participants went for Binibining Ilagan 2024. During the coronation, which was hosted by Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo and model Than Perez, the Ilagan government also invited a well-known artist to be a guest, none other than Alden Richards, Asia’s Multimedia Star and Box Office King.
Photo credit: Azrael Coladilla of Azrael’s Merry Blog
The presence of Alden at the coronation brought excitement to all attendees, particularly the people of Ilagueños who were delighted by his performance. The top 12 contestants demonstrated their intelligence during the competition, with only five ultimately being selected to receive a crown and represent Ilagan in Binibining Isabela.
Below are the top 5 winners for Binibining Ilagan 2024:
- Bb. Ilagan 2024 – Johnlene Ariola, Brgy. Alibagu – P100,00 cash prize
- Bb. Ilagan-Turismo, Sining at Kultura – Clare Arce, Brgy. Alibagu – P50,000 cash prize
- Bb. Ilagan-Agrikultura – Lalaine Bulan, Brg Bulan – P50,000 cash prize
- First Runner-Up – Justine Molly Asis, Brgy. Alinguigan – P30,000 cash prize
- Second Runner-Up- Valerie Ann May delos Santos, Brgy. Sindon Bayabo – P25,000 cash prize
The winners of Binibining Ilagan 2024 are as follows (from left): Bb. Ilagan – Second Runner-Up, Valerie Ann May delos Santos; Bb. Ilagan-Turismo, Sining at Kultura, Clare Arce; Bb. Ilagan 2024, Johnlene Ariola; Bb. Ilagan-Agrikultura, Lalaine Bulan; and Bb. Ilagan – First Runner-Up, Justine Molly Asis.
Binibining Ilagan 2024 Johnlene Ariola graduated as Cum Laude with a degree in BSBA Major in Financial Management from Isabela State University – Cauayan. Also present at the event was former Bb. Ilagan 2023 Kristine Joy Guzman, joyfully passing on the crown to the new beauty queen.
GRAND FESTIVE NIGHT
A grand closing ceremony, featuring a spectacular showcase of fireworks and music, concludes the festivities on the final day of the festival. During the concluding ceremonies, a grand concert by December Avenue, one of the most popular bands in the Philippines, was the main attraction. The Ilagan Sports Complex welcomed a large crowd of both locals and visitors from the region, making it one of the most successful and well-attended events ever held in the City of Ilagan. This moment is both poignant and hopeful, as the community bids farewell to another successful Mammangi Festival while eagerly anticipating next year’s event.
December Avenue with a crowd in Ilagan Sports Complex during last day event of Mammangi Festival 2024
Special recognition goes to the City Councilor and Director General Jay Eveson C. Diaz, RN, DPA, for his exceptional leadership and dedication as head of the Mammangi Festival 2024, as well as to Sir Nilo Agustin, the festival director, for his outstanding organizational skills and creativity in orchestrating such a remarkable event. We also extend our appreciation to “the Working Mayor,” Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz, DMD, MBA, for his unwavering support and reliability throughout the festival.
In conclusion, the Mammangi Festival of 2024 in Ilagan, Isabela is a celebration of culture, tradition, and community that brings people together in a spirit of unity and joy.
You can help the Ilagueños build their dream liveable city by 2030. You may contact the local government unit of Ilagan through their Facebook Page.
SULONG, LIVEABLE CITY OF ILAGAN!
