Edita Aguinaldo Dacuycuy better known as Philippines’ Dragon Fruit Queen has died due to COVID-19 at the age of 75.
The Philippine and Ilocos Norte pride has first been admitted to Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, hoping to recover from the infection brought by the contagious disease. However, Dacuycuy was still later declared dead.
On Saturday, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc took it to Facebook to share his sentiments after learning about the passing of the dragon fruit queen who has brought sense of recognition for their town.
“The Province has lost a true treasure. We will miss you dearly Manang Edita. You will forever be our Dragon Fruit Queen,” Manotoc wrote.
Senator Imee Marcos, who also served as the former governor of Ilocos Norte province from 2010 to 2019, has moreover extended her deep condolence to the bereaved family of Dacuycuy through a Facebook post.
“Ilocos Norte has lost their Dragon Fruit Queen. Condolences to the family of Manang Edita Dacuycuy,” Marcos expressed.
Local residents and staffs whose nature of work is inclined with Dacuycuy’s interest have also shared their sympathy.
“Her legacy as the ‘Dragon Fruit Queen of the Philippines’ will always remain in our hearts,” Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium staff wrote in a Facebook post.
Dacuycuy left a deep vestige as she was driven to grow dragon fruits alongside her husband Rodolfo, even once creating a dragon fruit plantation in their backyard.
The dragon fruit queen’s deed was acknowledged across the globe with her receiving multiple awards such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women Innovator Award in 2011, the Department of Agriculture’s National and Regional Gawad Saka Award in 2010 and 2018, and the Rural Women Award in 2019.
Photo Credit: REFMAD Farms