Pampanga farmers celebrate ‘duman’ bounty

STA. RITA, Pampanga—The heavy rains induced by the habagat (southwest monsoon) in August and the amihan (northeast monsoon) wind two months later had brought an unexpected bounty to local rice farmers who celebrated the ‘Duman’ Festival here on Saturday.
The lakatan malutu (red glutinous rice) variety withstood the habagat rains and had matured into a unique kind of sweetness because of the amihan (amyam to farmers here) in October.
“This enabled us farmers to make duman (soft and green native cereal),” said Councilor Felix Amio, also a farmer.
“We have enough grains this time, thank God,” said Arnel Galang, a 77-year-old duman maker.
Galang recalled that the red glutinous rice turned very scarce after Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” battered Central Luzon in September and October last year. Habagat rains flooded 287 villages in Pampanga in August this year but the variety survived.
Festival
The festival, for the first time in 11 years, was moved to the spacious gasak (farmlands) at the foot of the western side of the lahar barrier, the FVR Megadike, instead of the traditional venue at the grounds of the Sta. Rita Parish Church. The venue change meant an open-air theater, backdropped by two old acacia trees and lit by the full moon.
“I am surprised that despite the change of venue, many, many people still came to watch the zarzuela,” said Andy Alviz, executive director of the ArtiSta.Rita, the private cultural organization that mounts the festival.
The new setting is the “town’s Amorsolo,” Alviz said, referring to rural landscapes painted by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.
Aside from duman, native meals and snacks were sold during the festival. The second and third levels of the dike, designed to catch Mt. Pinatubo’s lahar, became dining areas, al fresco style. About 15,000 people came, organizers said.
“We are developing this place into a tourist destination. Here, people can view the whole of Pampanga and enjoy good food prepared by our cooks and residents,” said Mayor Yolanda Pineda.
Planted in May, the red glutinous rice variety sprouts grains before the amyam. These are planted in few plots in the villages of Becuran, Dila-Dila, San Basilio, San Agustin and Sta. Monica.
“They’re strong against the cold winds and rains but production is limited,” said Amio, 65. The harvest for every hectare averages 25 cavans, with each cavan weighing 50 kilograms.
But farmers earn from growing lakatan malutu when they opt to keep their harvest and instead hire others to produce duman for them.
While a cavan of the red glutinous rice sells for only P2,500, a wooden box of duman measured into a pati (more than a kilogram) sold for P2,200 to P2,500 on Saturday night.
The value was high because producing duman takes a week, employing more than seven people who share backbreaking tasks, said Galang.
‘Pinipig’
Amio expects more farmers to grow the red glutinous rice variety as pinipig (roasted grain) to supply the need of top ice cream maker, Magnolia.
The bulk of duman buyers are Kapampangan based abroad.
The sweet smell of duman wafted at the new venue as Galang and his team made the final pounding of the grains on Saturday. While Dominga Guanzon, 79, and Teodora Santos, 80, sold these to residents and visitors, with some coming from Metro Manila, the zarzuela (musical play) played to an appreciative audience.
The 40 homegrown artists belonging to ArtiSta. Rita, aged 10 to 60, performed with the Ima at Arti, a group of 30 or so accomplished women who turned to performing arts.
To date, these are the only groups that regularly stage zarzuelas using current themes, like fathers leaving for jobs abroad. Yearly, new funny and sad scenes, as well as songs, are added to the play.

Event organizers and companies in Manila travel out of town to the north to hold their team building events and company outings in a good resort in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort located in Clark is well regarded as one of the best venues for team building near Manila.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for. Clark is already a popular destination for golfers from Manila. Clark Freeport offers some of the best golf courses in Pampanga and outshines many golf clubs and golf courses elsewhere in the Philippines. Clark Pampanga offers many good resorts and hotels for a short trip out of Manila, and Clearwater is one of the best places to relax and unwind for a weekend getaway or a short holiday in Pampanga.

This private resort in Pampanga is a frequently visited vacation spot outside of Manila. Included in the list of resorts highly recommended for families with children visiting Clark Philippines is Clearwater Resort located conveniently in the central business district of Clark Freeport which is accessible from Manila.

Free internet WIFI access is offered to guests of this famous hotel in Clark Pampanga. Guests can even connect to Internet WIFI service near the white sand beach, by the famous lake of Clark or in any of the picnic grounds around this resort. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good place for family trips in Pampanga.

Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Private resort is frequently visited during Holy Week and Easter Holidays for residents of Manila travelling out of town on getaway to the north to unwind and relax in outdoor resort.

During holy week, Easter holidays, Christmas, New Year, Halloween and especially the Clark Hot Air Balloon Festival, Manila residents travel out of town to the north to relax and unwind at this famous resort in Pampanga. Clearwater Resort is the hotel in Clark that visitors prefer for family bonding and team building outside of Manila.

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Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

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Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
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Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

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Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)

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