The Mammangi Festival is a joyous occasion, a heartfelt thanksgiving to God for the abundant harvest and the city's achievements and accolades, and an innovative approach to encouraging every Ilagueño to uphold the sense of pride and love of the City of Ilagan.

Since its inception in 2011, the city government has paid tribute to its mammangi (corn farmers) and their heroic hard work in the field that accounts for the long-standing stature of the City of Ilagan as the Corn Capital of the Philippines.

With a grand comeback in 2023 after the pandemic, this year's celebration was set to continue the vision for a liveable city and was aptly themed: Liveable City of Ilagan 2030: Isinasapuso Ng Bawat Ilagueño under the leadership of Mayor Josemarie L. Diaz.

The grand festivity was held on April 26-May 11, with city-wide activities such as the much-awaited Tienda Ilagan, Tour of Agri-Ecotourism Village, Cultural Olympics, Binibining Ilagan Grand Finals and Coronation Night, Liga ng mga Barangay Night with the awarding of barangay achievements, Festival Street Dance and Showdown Competitions and the Gawad Ilagueño and Grand Concert.

Jona and Jessica Villarubin perform at the Mammangi Festival 2024

BB. ILAGAN 2024 WINNERS. Johnlene Ariola from Brgy Alibagu (center) was named Binibining Ilagan 2024. Twenty lovely ladies out of the city’s 91 barangays made it to the grand finals.   Her court included, Bb. Turismo, Singing, at Kultura Claire Arce, another candidate from Alibagu; Bb. Agrikultura Lalaine Bulan from Brgy Bangag; 1st Runner up Justine Molly Asis  from Brgy Alinguigan;  2nd Runner up Valerie Ann May delos Santos from Brgy Sindon BayaboPoblacion 2 is Mammangi Festival 2024 Street Dance top winner and overall champion winning the grand prize of P1-M of infra and development projects from the city government.

Liveable, vibrant City of Ilagan

With 33,500 hectares of production areas for corn (which were already harvested when the Manila media group of 20 arrived), the city’s various development and infrastructure projects were evident. New roads and bridges were being built while tourism sites were undergoing repair and improvement.

Multi-billion development projects also await the city such as renewable energy, manufacturing, and cold chain industry projects.

These are on top of the ongoing construction of the I-Corn Complex, a facility to serve corn growers in the city and the entire Isabela province in the processing of their corn harvest.

The Agri-Ecotourism booths showcased the city and its various barangays’ dedication to promoting sustainable agriculture and ecotourism initiatives. They featured a diverse range of exhibits, highlighting the best practices in agriculture and ecotourism, emphasizing the importance of these sectors in economic development and environmental conservation.

The highly anticipated Binibining Ilagan 2024 grand finals and coronation night held at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex was hosted by Miss Universe Philippines 2022 and actress-host Rabiya Mateo.

After a colorful presentation -- costume, swimsuit, gown and casual wear – and the gruelling Q&A, a mestiza beauty from Brgy. Balibagu, Johnlene Ariola, was proclaimed Binibining Ilagan 2024.

No less than Kapuso actor Alden Richards serenaded the candidates. T

Meanwhile, for the Barangay Night and awarding of Outstanding Ilagueños 2024, the comedy duo of Wally Bayola and Allan K provided entertainment, songs, and laughter throughout the program.

Mayor Diaz, Vice Mayor Kiryll S. Bello, and the Sangguniang Panlungsod officials led the awarding rites, which gathered representatives from the City of Ilagan’s 91 barangays. Isabela Vice Gov. Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III honored the awardees with his presence.

The festival’s highlight, the Mammangi Festival Street Dance and Showdown Competition at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex, was truly a night to remember.

Braving the scorching heat of the sun in the late afternoon’s parade, eight contingents danced gleefully and gracefully in their colorful props and costumes bearing the corn harvest and cultural heritage of the city.

The festival also featured several musical events and concerts with Manila and local artists participating, among them: Agsunta, December Avenue, Jona, Jessica Villarubin and Tom Rex. Capping the Mammangi Medley 2024 was a grand fireworks display to the delight of Ilagueños and guests.

Agri-Ecotourism Tienda Ilagan grand opening. City of Ilagan Mayor Josemarie L. Di-az, together with Vice Mayor Kiryll S. Bello, the city council and heads of various de-partments/agencies of the LGU, and DepEd, led the opening ceremonies of the Agri-Ecotourism Tienda Ilagan, showcasing booths of excellent Ilagan-made products highlighting the rich cultural heritage, resiliency and industry of the Ilagueños. Here are the places of interests we visited on the sideline of the festival:

The crowd-drawing Abuan River in the village of Bintacan, is touted to be the nation’s next big whitewater destination. It is a 65-kilometer essential conduit channel inside the 50,625 hectares of Abuan Watershed, located at the City of Ilagan, Isabela.

The river is part of the Northern Sierra Madre National Park, one of the remaining tropical rainforests on the island of Luzon that is rich in flora and fauna. It is located 82 meters above sea level and is a favorite place for villagers and tourists who do whitewater rafting, rappelling, waterfalls trekking, kayaking and other water activities.

Today, the Abuan Watershed and its stream are protected by the Provincial Government of Isabela, the Municipal Government of Ilagan and the World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines.

Guests from Manila enjoy the cool water of Isabela's famed Abuan River

Meanwhile, the Ilagan Japanese Tunnel was part of the Japanese military headquarters during the 1942 to 1945 Japanese Occupation of the Philippines in World War II. It was built with the sweat and blood of detained Ilagueños and is one of the few remaining tunnels in the province. It was also a weapons storage facility for bombs, explosives, guns and ammunition.

The tunnel measures about 40 meters long and 3.66 met4ers in width and height. However, the real length of the tunnel has yet to be determined as the site has yet to be fully explored. Outside the tunnel, the garden has been designed to look like the parks of Japan, with a Shinto shrine, bridge, wind chime (furin) and a koi pond.

Tourists don the Japanese kimono, part of the fun while touring Isabela Japanese Tunnel The City of Ilagan Museum, located near the Ilagan City Hall and the GSO Office, is managed by the city’s Tourism Office. It provides information on the history, culture and heritage of the City of Ilagan.

The museum is divided into two wings, the left wing devoted to Ilagan in the 20th and 21st century, while the right wing delves on the early history and culture and traditions of Ilagan.

The Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC), located within Isabela State University, is the second of its kind in the country (the first is in Iloilo). Launched on July 23, 2023, it is a micro-scale yarn-spinning facility that will aid in the development of the textile industry in Northern Luzon. The facility produces 50 kilos of yarn per day.

Ilagan Museum features farm life in the olden times 

Ilagan Sanctuary, the most visited tourist spot in Ilagan City, is a protected area located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Brgy. Santa Victoria. Attractions inside the park include bird viewing, Animal Kingdom, which is home to the longest snake in the Philippines, a tiger, ostrich, crocodile, eagle, monkey, deer and wild pig), a natural spring pool, Pinzal falls, Butterfly Park and the caves. Some activities in the sanctuary will require you to ride on an ATV.

The sanctuary features natural lattices and rock formations inside the 400 meters cave length. The cave includes the Main cave, Altar cave and Adventure cave.

Ilagan Sanctuary is the most visited tourism spot in Isabela 

The visit to the City of Ilagan was worth our time. Needless to say, the Ilagueños show love for their hometown and respect for their leaders. Thus, we look forward to the city’s robust development in the many Mammangi Festivals to come!

All photos by Leony Garcia