The celebration of Ubi Festival is quite different this year as it is being conducted under the new normal.

This year’s Ubi Festival opened on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 as organizers placed premium on health and safety protocols, Dr. Larry Pamugas, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist said in a radio interview over Open Forum on Monday, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.

This year’s festival has a theme, “Pagpananum ug Ubi Napuslan, Kagutom Nga Dala sa COVID-19 Nabatukan”.

Gov. Arthur Yap expressed his points emphasizing the importance of growing
Ubi as a means of livelihood for Boholanos.

The governor led the opening of the festival which is now on its 21st year with Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos, Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, and wife Jane.

Other dignitaries who attended the festival’s opeming on Monday were
Board Members Ricky Masamayor, Aldner Damalerio, Frans Garcia, Vierna May Boniel-Maglasang, former Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio, Prov. Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto, and head of offices of the provincial government, reports say.

The same reports say that beauty queens, Miss Bohol 2019 Celina Villoceno and Miss Universe Philippines 2020- 3rd Runner Up and Ambassador of Tourism, Pauline Amelinckx were also in attendance..

The festival will run until Feb. 24, 2021. The festival venue, the Old Tagbilaran airport, opens at 8 am and closed at 8:30 pm.