La Trinidad in Benguet is gearing up for its 2025 Strawberry Festival, and this year’s highlight is a giant strawberry cake shaped like a "kayabang," a traditional Ibaloi basket. The cake will feature 280 kilos of fresh strawberries, representing the town’s agricultural richness. Valred Olsim, the municipal tourism officer, mentioned that this cake design was previewed during last year’s festival, which showcased two giant cakes—one red, the other with snow-white strawberries.
On March 23, the cake will be served at the municipal gym, with 500 pans of strawberry sponge cake being cut into 16,000 slices. A local bakeshop, which will use its own recipe, is in charge of preparing the cake to ensure consistency in taste, texture, and quality.
Unity and Community Spirit at the Festival
Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan highlighted the importance of community involvement in the festival. “The strawberry, like our town, has many seeds, and these seeds represent the people,” he said. The red color of the fruit symbolizes the love of the community, welcoming everyone—whether residents, visitors, or tourists.
The festival is a celebration of La Trinidad’s strong sense of unity and collaboration. From the giant cake to the various activities, it’s clear that the whole town plays a part in making the event a success.
A Celebration of Heritage and Agriculture
The Strawberry Festival, celebrated since 1981, officially became a municipal event through an ordinance in 2011. Mayor Romeo Salda recalled the town’s 2004 achievement of a Guinness World Record for the largest strawberry shortcake, showcasing the collective effort of the community.
This year’s festival, running from March 3 to 29, will feature an ecumenical service, a civic parade, street dancing, and a search for the heaviest and sweetest strawberry. With a blend of tradition and celebration, the festival continues to highlight La Trinidad’s agricultural heritage and the spirit of its people.
