By Haidee V. Eugenio
Guam is not only blessed with sun-kissed beaches butalso with good harvests of mangoes.
Mangoes are very much a part of village life that a festival is held in their honor every May.
They grow in abundance on this tropical American island especially in the southern village of Agat, which has been holding the Mango Festival for 12 years.
The 2018 festival, from May 25 to 27, showcased everything mango — from spicy pickled mangoes to thirst-quenching mango shakes and mango popsicles, doughnut mangoes, mango crepes, mango pies, mango cakes and other flavorful desserts with a touch of the revered fruit.
Growers near and far also had the chance to bring home prizes and bragging rights for presenting their biggest, most bizarre, and most beautiful mangoes.
The biggest one was almost the size of a human face, while the most bizarre one seemed like a horn grew on the fruit. For the most beautiful ones, their skins are smooth, their colors are orange to red, and are shaped almost like a heart.
The festival ground was also packed with vendors selling island fiesta plates (attention, barbecue lovers), other fruits and vegetables, local delicacies, ornamental plants, arts and crafts, and carnival rides such as a smaller version of a Ferris wheel.
Festival goers were also treated to non-stop live entertainment, courtesy of homegrown bands and cultural dance groups.
Capping the three-day event was a fireworks display, transforming the village’s night skies into a magical canvass of colors.
Next year’s festival could only be even better, bigger and tastier than it’s ever been.
