Mango and bamboo, which rhyme and exist together to propel this city’s economy, were “honored” by the residents during the Mango and Bamboo Festival on April 29.

This city (pop: 170,000) is known as the biggest producer of mango in Pangasinan, the number one province in the production of the national fruit in the country, said Mayor Julian Resuello.

About 2,200 hectares of land in the city are planted to mango with an estimated 200,000 trees, with about 150,000 already fruit-bearing.

But aside from producing the sweet fruit, San Carlos is also known as a trading center of mango, Resuello said.  “Only 20 percent of mangoes traded in the city are produced here, while 80 percent are from other towns of the province.”

Many city residents have mastered the technology of mango production and are hired in other provinces for their skills. “They know the technology starting from growing mango trees to flower induction to marketing the fruits,” Resuello said.

Mango producers from the city are scattered to over 13 provinces with mango orchards, he added.

However, the city has no processing plant for mango and the fruit is sold fresh locally and internationally.

Bamboo is another gift of nature to this city with about 150 kilometers of rivers and creeks crisscrossing it. “The banks are planted to bamboo which the residents turn into furniture like sala sets and beds, decors and bahay-kubo,” Resuello said.

The city has a market exclusively for bamboo products and traders usually come to buy wholesale. The idea of  building transferable bahay-kubo actually came from a city resident.

The city grows bamboo known locally as “kawayan tua” and “kawayan bayog.”

At least 17 barangays are involved in bamboo crafts, Resuello said.