KESO FESTIVAL

Photo from: lagunatravelguide.com

The festival showcased parade participated in by the town’s officials and employees, candidates of Mutya ng Sta. Cruz pageant and members of civic and business groups and is made gay by jubilant street dancing. The nine-day celebration featured different native products of Laguna as well. – localphilippines.com

Photo from: gofoodtrip.blogspot.com

The town of Santa Cruz is very proud of its main delicacy, the kesong puti, such that they hold a festival in its honor every month of March. This year (2010), the kesong puti festival is scheduled on March 15-19 at the Municipal Hall grounds. Although there were many vendors/producers of kesong puti at the festival, there was still a shortage in the supply because of the large volume of orders. We were lucky that we were able to buy the two remaining boxes of kesong puti that sells for PhP 60 for two small pieces or PhP 120 for two large pieces. Kesong puti was also available at the Anilag Festival that was held last March 8-14, 2010 at the Provincial Capitol grounds. On regular days, when there are no festivals, you can buy kesong puti in Santa Cruz, Laguna along Bgy. Bagumbayan where there are many households that produce kesong puti as a cottage industry. – lagunatravelguide.com

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In celebration of the town’s quadricentennial as a municipality in April, 2002, the Keso Festival came into existence. Kesong Puti is an authentic Filipino cheese which originated from Laguna. It is made from the freshest carabao’s milk and is made hard using a coagulating agent- either vinegar or rennet (part of the cow’s stomach). A small amount of salt is added to give it added flavor. It is said that kesong puti originated from Sta. Cruz, the reason why the municipal officials put up a festival in its honor. – laguna.islandsphilippines.com

Photo from: lagunatravelguide.com

Kesong Puti Festival is held in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, in celebration of the town’s main delicacy, the Kesong Puti. It had been celebrated on different dates since it was first held ten years ago, but this year, it was celebrated on May 7-12.

Before the event formally start, the Municipality of Sta. Cruz usually has a Civic Parade and “Misa ng Pasasalamat” or Thanksgiving Mass sponsored by the city mayor. Then, they have a trade fair in the front of Liwasang Sta. Cruz showcasing Kesong Puti and other products of the city. Kesong Puti (native white cheese) is made from the milk of carabaos or water buffalos. It is a fresh soft white cheese. It is best served with hot “pandesal,” a yeast bread popular in the country. It is a rounded bread made of flour, eggs, yeast, sugar, and salt. Kesong puti and pandesal can be both served with coffee or hot chocolate in the morning.

Tourists go to Sta. Cruz to order boxes of Kesong Puti, not only during festivals but also all year round. On regular days, when there are no festivals, you can buy kesong puti in Barangay Bagumbayan in Sta. Cruz. There are many households that make Kesong Puti as a cottage industry. Read More: https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Kesong-Puti-Festival-White-Cheese-Everywhere