The fair aims to promote local products in celebration of the province’s founding anniversary.
On August 6, 1569, King Phillip of Spain appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as the first governor of the province of Cebu. In 2000, the Philippine Congress declared this date as the province’s founding anniversary.
Every year, the Cebu provincial government hosts events at Cebu Capitol to commemorate this historic date. One example is the week-long farmer’s market or trade fair known as Tabo sa Kapitolyo.
Translated as “the market at the Capitol,” the event gathers farmers from various towns around Cebu to sell their freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, and root crops in the city.
You can expect to find some of the island’s best local products, including town delicacies, artwork, and supplies being sold to the masses.
Tabo sa Kapitolyo is held annually during the province’s founding anniversary to encourage Cebuanos to buy straight from local farmers.
All products are freshly harvested and sold at fairly affordable prices.
HIGHLIGHTS OF TABO SA KAPITOLYO 2024
The trade fair opened with a special program on August 5th. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia graced the event along with other members of the provincial government, including special guest First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
The market strip is situated at the back of Cebu Capitol, right beside Sugbo Sentro Food Park.
Individual kiosks represent the different towns and cities participating in the trade fair. They use unique designs that highlight what each town is famous for, whether it be local delicacies or tourist attractions.
Some of the popular towns participating in the trade fair include Liloan, Sibonga, Madridejos, Samboan, Dalaguete, Santa Fe, Pinamungajan, Mandaue City, and more.
Cebu delicacies were everywhere, with Liloan showcasing the famous Titay’s Rosquillos and Argao selling pieces of torta. There is even a stall selling bags of tablea, which they also displayed using a chocolate fountain.
Pilar, a remote island near Camotes, is known for their salbaro, commonly known as pan bisaya. This type of bread infuses coconut shavings into its batter and is cooked on top of banana leaves to give it a crunchy exterior and a flaky center. You can try this out at the trade fair and enjoy other delicacies that are synonymous with the town representing them.
You can also try ginanggang. These are grilled banana plantains that are coated with margarine and sugar. This unique type of banana cue is more commonly found in the province and is rarely sold in the city.
Various artworks and handicrafts are also being showcased at the event. These range from massive furniture pieces to cute keychains and knicknacks.
Santa Fe, a municipality near Bantayan Island, has a display of well-designed bags and wall decors, inspired by seashells, which are prominent in the town.
Toledo City has some carved sculptures of lighthouses and ships.
Sibonga flexed their lesser known pottery industry by selling some clay pots aside from their crops and delicacies. Other stalls sell sturdy benches and tables carved from high-quality wood.
RESOURCES AND CEBU CAPITOL
Tabo sa Kapitolyo shows how important resources are to nation-building and development. Back in the early days, the island was primarily a shipping port used for trade by other Asian nations.
In “The Formation of a City: Trade and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Cebu” by Resil Mojares, the author calls Cebu an important trading center because of its location, and of course, abundance in resources (1991).
This week-long event seemingly harkens back to those times, wherein people would come to Cebu to do business. But instead of the port area, it is celebrated in the heart of the city. This definitely gives local farmers an opportunity to showcase their products and highlight the agricultural industry on the island..
In turn, the event encourages us to support them by purchasing their products. In a way, it’s a testament to how businesses in Cebu have grown and become what they are today.
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Tabo sa Kapitolyo will run until August 10th at Cebu Capitol, and it’s open to everyone. Enjoy the freshly-grown produce and delicious delicacies from the many towns and cities of Cebu province.
This is the perfect event to get to know more about the island and commemorate the day it was officially considered an independent state.
