Peanut Festival

Peanut Festival coincides with the patronal feast in the town of Enrile, Cagayan, Philippines every August 5. Enrile is considered the Peanut of the country, and its celebration is siultaneous with the feast day of Our Lady of Snows.

History of Peanut Festival

Peanut Festival celebrates the farming and production of peanut, one of its major crops of the town of Enrile. The town contributes between 8-10% of the total output of the crop in the country, and its yield is 1.8 metric tons per hectare.

It has “sandy loam” soil that is said to be suitable for the growth of the said plant, and it can be cultivated both in dry and wet seasons. According to a 2020 report, it had 800 growers tilling 700 hectares dedicated to the crop.

The first Peanut Festival was launched in 2019 within the term of Mayor Miguel B. Decena Jr. It was mounted with the presence and/or partnership with other government agencies and other institutions such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Landbank of the Philippines, Cagayan State University Piat Campus, Southern Cagayan Research Center, farmers, and the Cagayan Valley Research Center.

In addition, the fest occurs at the same time as the feast of Our Lady of Snows, also referred to as Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. During the Spanish colonial period, the town of Enrile was called Cabug and once part of Tuguegarao. In 1724, a chapel in Cabug was erected and placed under the patronage of Nuestra Señora de las Caldas (Our Lady of the Hot Springs).

The change of the patroness came about when it was known that the nearby village of Libag already had a devotion to Our Lady of the Hot Springs. Thus, the chapel in Cabug replaced its patroness to Our Lady of the Snows.

On September 9, 1849, Cabug was separated from Tuguegarao. It was renamed to Enrile after Governor General Pascual Enrile y Alcedo. Its stone church was built by Fr. Pedro Alcantara and the construction continued by friars who succeeded him until the church was completed in 1877.

Peanut Festival Activities

The schedule of the Peanut Festival falls between August 3 and 5. Some activities such as sports event happen weeks before the official feast. For instance, games for the basketball tournaments are held as early as the middle of July and extend until the middle of August.

Peanut Congress is one of the highlights of the Peanut Festival. It is an opportunity for stakeholders of the peanut industry, led by the Enrile Peanut Industry Council, to gather and touchbase on the progress of the industry.

Other events include food bazaars, entertainment, night market, convention, seminars, and talks on peanut production and industry, cook-fest, etc.

How to reach Enrile, Cagayan

The nearest airport is Tuguegarao Airport, and it is about 20 kilometers away from the town of Enrile.

References

• DA, Enrile town eye agri complex for peanut; Mama Sita’s considers Enrile as source of 20,000 kilos of peanuts monthly. Department of Agriculture Cagayan Valley. October 9, 2019. Retrievd January 10, 2023
• A brief history of the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de las Nieves, Enrile, Cagayan. Archdiocese of Tuguegarao. August 5, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2023
• DA helps boost the peanut industry in Cagayan town. Agriculture. September 16, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2023

Peanut Festival Summary

Name	Peanut Festival
Celebration	Agriculture, Peanut, Religion
Church	Our Lady of Snows Parish Church
Contact	0917 729 9555
Country	Philippines
Date	August 5
Duration	3 days
Email	lgu_enrile@yahoo.com
Established	2019
Facebook	www.facebook.com
Founder	Miguel B. Decena Jr.
Location	Enrile, Cagayan
Organizer	Municipal Government of Enrile
Patron	Nuestra Señora de las Nieves