FLIGHT OF THE LOWLY MARANG

In the many Fruit Festivals which were held at the SM Megamall in Metro Manila which displayed and sold the fruits from North Cotabato, it was the lowly Marang which proved to be the star of the show.

People of Metro Manila, intrigued by the aroma and the exotic taste of this fruit which only grows in the equatorial line, would line up to buy Marang.

Just a few hours after the shipment would be brought from the airport to the SM Megamall, the lowly Marang would be swept clean by the long line of fruit lovers.

Marang in Metro Manila is sold for P100 per kilo.

Marang in its natural habitat in North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and the neighboring provinces sells for only P10 per piece.

Marang vendors along the national highway from Cotabato to Davao would be arm-weary by the end of the day trying to sell the highly perishable fruit.

But with the completion of the Central Mindanao Airport (Mlang Rural Airport) by next year, the lowly Marang could finally be the star of the fruits in Metro Manila and the big cities.

Along with the other fruits produced in North Cotabato like Mangosteen and Rambutan, the Marang could be transported by air cargo and be made available to the fruit lovers of the metropolitan areas.