By Cyrus A. Natividad

Rebecca Castro Tubongbanua (first from left)  continues to promote Guimaras products through her innovation and passion.

Every month of May, tourists and entrepreneurs flock to the annual Manggahan Festival in Guimaras. Guimaras is known for its sweet mango the world over. Festival organizers bring together farmers and entrepreneurs involved in the mango industry. They set up a big area in Jordan where the fruit and various products derived from it (jam, candy, cookies, etc.) may be displayed and sold at an affordable price.

At the center of interest for mango products is the display booth of a Centralian chemist known for her ingenuity and admirable entrepreneurship. Rebecca Castro Tubongbanua (CPU BS Chemistry, Batch 1982) has been awarded many times as agricultural entrepreneur, farmer scientist, and excellent product entrepreneur for processed mango in the country.

Tubongbanua is the genius behind the McNester brand. Their products range from mango ketchup to mango serafina and dried mango among others. At the CPU TV weekly public affairs program, Looking Forward, Tubongbanua discussed and promoted Guimaras products as well as its socio-economic impact to the community.

Tubongbanua’s education from CPU has given her the training so that she was able put up a thriving business and bring honor to her humble island by producing excellent products.