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| photo by April Gail Valencia |
Many people came out for Oton’s annual SANDIYA Festival. Celebrated this year in December 6, it was a really hot day, but watermelons flowed and a good time was had by all.
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| photo by April Gail Valencia |
There was lots of fun for kids, families and everyone who loves watermelon like the people of Oton. Many were inspired by the event’s exciting watermelon carvings; the pinaka (biggest and heaviest watermelon); watermelon relay and watermelon eating contest.
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| photo by April Gail Valencia |
Everyone enjoyed a complimentary slice of the town’s finest watermelons during the opening ceremony where 3,500 pieces of watermelons encircled the Oton Amphitheater Green and were distributed to everyone present around the area.
For a long time, watermelon has been taken for granted by many as a sweet, tasty summertime fruit, made of sugar and water, and nothing more. And over the past years, many have taken interest to find out more about the health benefits watermelon. As it turns out, watermelon is incredibly healthy.
Nutritionists worldwide have long appreciated the health benefits that the watermelon provides especially with its healthy properties and effects on women, children, men and pregnant women. It is an important part of a healthy diet.
Among the many fresh produce, watermelon is the leader in Lycopene. It also has excellent levels of vitamins A that is important for optimal eye health, can help prevent night-blindness, and boosts immunity by enhancing the infection-fighting actions of white blood cells called lymphocytes.
It is also rich in vitamin C that helps bolster the immune system's defenses against infections and viruses and can protect a body from harmful free radicals that can accelerate aging and conditions such as cataracts. It also has a good level of Vitamin B6 that helps the immune system produce antibodies. Antibodies are needed to fight many diseases. Vitamin B6 helps maintain normal nerve function and form red blood cells. The body uses it to help break down proteins. The more protein you eat, the more vitamin B6 you need.
Celebrated annually for the last six years, the local government unit of Oton, the Oton Watermelon Grower’s Association (OWGA) and East-West Seed Company Incorporated organized this festivity with one goal, and that is to increase consumer demand for fresh watermelon through promotion, research, and educational programs.
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| photo by April Gail Valencia |
The municipality of Oton through its very friendly mayor, Honorable Vicente V. Flores, Jr. wishes to thank all their sponsors and volunteers for making this year’s festival a great success and to everyone who came out to enjoy the SANDIYA Festival.
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