VILLASIS–Talong (eggplant), the main produce of this town known as the Vegetable Bowl of Pangasinan, takes center stage on January 18, the annual fiesta celebration highlighted by the Talong Festival.

Mayor Nonato Abrenica said the people in their town will once again take the streets for the street dancing, cookfest, float parade, and a grilling showcase, all featuring their top and most famous produce.

Abrenica said that since they started holding the Talong Festival, already a part of the Philippine Tourism Authority’s official event’s calendar, more people have been coming to buy their agricultural products, especially at their Bagsakan Market.

Of the 21 barangays here, 12 are in-

volved in eggplant production with 335 hectares planted to this crop.

While there are many varieties of eggplant planted here, local farmers prefer the best-selling type, the long, dark purple casino variety, deemed ideal for grilling and usually dipped in bagoong with spiced with vinegar or calamansi and mixed with sliced tomatoes and chopped onions.

“Our eggplant is re ally a hit among the masses because aside from being cheap, it is long, big and delicious,” Abrenica said.

Meanwhile, the mayor said he is also very happy with the overwhelming support of balikbayans (homecoming Filipinos) for infrastructure projects.

This year’s Miss Villasis search, a popularity contest, generated P9 million which will be used for the roofing of the town’s auditorium.

To be crowned Miss Villasis on Jan. 19 is Aileen May Abrena supported by the Villasinians Organization of California, USA, while first princess is Paola Sison Morden sponsored by the Villasinians Federation of Europe and the local government unit and second princess is Roxanne Dumenden supported by Villasinians Association of  East Coast, USA.#

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