BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—This province is not only known for years as the gateway to the Cagayan Valley region , it is also famous for its orange varities grown in upland villages of Kasibu town.
These citrus varieties are sold along stalls of the highway in barangay Busilac in this town where local and foreign tourists take a pick for their quenching taste or simply buy them as ‘Pasalubong’ or a token for relatives.
The oranges’ famous appeal can never be forgotten among commuters that Joel Palay, 48, a businessman from Alicia, Isabela usually buys several kilos of the product on his way back home.
“It awakens our tired bodies when we drive at night from Bulacan aside from being a good source of Vitamin C,” he said.
The province’s popularity is also attributed to the oranges which catapulted Nueva Vizcaya’s fame in the country’s tourism map.
But both fames can only be traced to Alfonso Namujhe, known as the pioneer of the citrus and orange industry in Malabing Valley in Kasibu town who introduced their propagation that turned into a profitable venture.
Sold along the stalls of barangay Busilac’s roadside, called as citrus alley are Vizcaya orange varieties such as Red Chandler and the pink Amoy Chinese of the pomelo(Citrus Gigantis) family; Valencia; seedless Hamlin orange also known as the Perante Orange, the Washington navel and Gillette Nave variety(Citrus Cinensis) which are ideal for fresh orange juice; the seedless Satsuma(Japanese orange); Poncan(Chinese mandarin) and the Clementine type of the Mandarin(Citrus reticulata) family.
Like an offering to the Gods, citrus and orange varieties are arranged in pyramid form that invites government dignitaries, tourists and commuters who ply the national highway.
Namuhje, a former worker of Monterey Farms in Laguna who shared his knowledge to his fellow Ifugao farmers can now be proud that at present, more than 300 farmers in Kasibu town have ventured into citrus and orange production as a source of livelihood.
“The orange highway is one of the outlets of our products and a venue to promote them,” said Fernando Sison former manager of the Malabing Valley Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc.
From July to January each year, orange and citrus varieties are harvested and brought to different outlets in the province. This season is considered the peak season of orange and citrus products where tons of them are loaded in wooden crates for distribution to other outlets outside the province.
MVFMPCI which was formed in 1990 serves as a drop point for citrus and orange products coming from the 300-hectare plantation in Malabing Valley in Kasibu town which covers barangays Malabing, Tadjie, Wangal, Binugawan, Papaya and Capissaan.
Agriculture experts said the temperature in the valley-hot during the day and cold during the night—makes the land fertile and ideal for citrus production.
Each year, farmers in Kasibu town celebrate the Citrus Festival as thanksgiving offering for the bountiful blessings of the town that benefited migrant Ifugaos.
During the festivity, the Ifugaos perform the ‘Culpi’, a way of thanksgiving to Kabunian or Supreme Being where a number of pigs and chickens are offered.
Ifugaos, garbed in their native g-strings banged their gongs as they paraded around the village. Thousands of oranges are also displayed in booths while some were given for free to visitors.
Alex Pumihic, former chairman of the publicity and promotions committee of the first Citrus Festival in 2008 said the celebration is intended to thank the Gods because of their improved economic status in Kasibu.
“In fact, our old tradition has been revived because of the agricultural potentials of this town,” he said.