VIGAN CITY—Athletes from Ilocos Sur rev up their body by drinking calamansi juice.

Now the official energy drink of athletes campaigning in aports events including the just concluded Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Meet in Pangasinan, the calamansi juice comes in bottles just like the commercial colas and is ready to drink.

This is the “Calamansi Juice Ready to Drink” produced in Tagudin under the “One Town, One Product” concept.

This marks the first time that athletes from Ilocos Sur are using a locally produced energy drink, instead of the commercial energy drink they can readily buy from grocery stores.

Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano said on Sunday that the making of this drink is one of the strategies they have adopted in order to promote the different locally-made products of the province.

“One of the best means of promoting our local products is we should be the first one who will use it. Just like what happened to our Abel Iluko products, bolo and scythe products and basi,” Savellano said.

“Calamansi juice is a nutritious drink because it is very rich in Vitamin C,” said Savellano himself a calamansi juice drinker.

In the recently concluded “Kannawidan Ylocos Festival trade fair, the “Calamansi Juice Ready place in a 10 ml. (mili-liter) plastic bottle was showcased.

Almost all residents of the town have a small farm of calamansi in their backyards and some of their vacant lots.

In order to strengthen the calamansi Industry in Tagudin town, a processing plant that produces the Calamansi Concentrate was built for the production of sufficient stock of the energy drink for local and national consumption.

Calamansi (citrofortunella microcarpa) belongs to the citrus family. It is a fruit tree native in the Philippines with various uses.

The calamansi juice is used to season fish, fowl, and pork. It is commonly used as a condiment for dishes such as pancit bihon.

The calamansi pulp can be utilized in beverages, syrups, concentrates, and purees, whereas, the peel can be needed in making jams, candies and marmalade.

With its alkalinizing effect, calamansi helps blood circulate energy and facilitates normal digestion.

In humans, Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant, acting to lessen oxidate stress, a substrate for ascorbate peroxidase, as well as an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of many important biochemicals. (PNA)