Manila, April 27 -- Residents of rural village Talingaan here, including local and foreign military guests, joined the 3- and 5-kilometer fun run on Monday and feasted on "linapet," a popular Filipino snack made from cassava and cooked in coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed.

The events marked the opening of the first Cassava Festival of Talingaan, celebrating not just a crop but a deep-rooted symbol of local pride and resilience.

Talingaan village chief Michael Palting told the Philippine News Agency in an interview Monday that the festival is a tribute to the village's long-valued root crop for its adaptability and role in food security.

It will also sustain the livelihood of small-scale farmers, including community-ba...