Mandaue delicacies take spotlight in 45th Charter Day fete

CEBU, Philippines - The Bibingkahan and Masareal Festival is one of the highlights in this year's 45th Charter Day celebration of Mandaue City.

Mandaue City Councilor Diosdado Suico, chairman of the this year's Executive Committee of the Charter Day celebration, said the festival promoting the city's delicacies bibingka and masareal is scheduled on August 28.

Masareal is a delicacy with sugar and ground nuts as main ingredients. Bibingka-making has been a means of livelihood for a number of residents in Mandaue City.

It can be remembered that the biggest bibingka was made in Mandaue City last May 10, 2011. The giant bibingka measured 50 meters in diameter and was made of smaller bibingka squares. In all, 61 sacks of rice, 60 sacks of sugar and 13,500 coconuts were used.

The ingredients were cooked using 700 sacks of coconut husk and augmented with seven sacks of charcoal.

Suico also announced the different activities lined up for the weeklong celebration of the Charter Day of the city.

A media launching and press conference is set for July 31; sports opening and parade, Aug. 4;  Skills Olympics, Aug. 22; Parkmall Exhibit, Aug. 25; Academic, Oratorical and Trivia Competition, Aug. 27;  Bibingkahan and Masareal Festival, Aug. 28;  Amazing Race, awarding of outstanding employees and Taxpayers' Night, Aug. 29; and Mass, Foot and Fluvial Parade, awarding of nominees, vision rally, inter-barangay hip-hop dance contest, Aug. 30.