By MARILOU M. AGUIRRE | Davao Today
DAVAO CITY — Anticipating Davaoeos’ excitement over the rematch of World Boxing Council international super featherweight champions Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, the Araw ng Dabaw executive committee prepares wide screens at the Quezon park and Almendras gym on the Araw ng Dabaw celebration on March 16.
Councilor Susabel Reta, vice-chairperson of the Araw ng Dabaw executive committee, told davaotoday.com that setting up wide screens will give Davaoeos and other spectators the chance to witness both the Pacquiao-Morales fight and Parada Dabawenyo — the highlight of the Araw ng Dabaw event, at the same time.
Activities in towns and cities used to come to a standstill, at times, resulting to zero crime rates, in the previous Pacquiao fights. Pacquaio’s much-anticipated fight this year happens at the time when Davao culminates its three-day 71st anniversary celebration.
The parade is set after a thanksgiving mass at the San Pedro cathedral, from seven in the morning until 12 p.m.
On March 15, there will be a trade fair and flea market or taboan at the Rizal park, where anybody can sell their goods and products the whole day, free of charge.
“Anyone can display their products at the taboan, especially those who don’t have stalls or can’t afford to rent one,” Reta urged.
The grand opening of Araw ng Dabaw is set on Friday morning, March 14 at the Rizal Park. A preview of the Museo Dabawenyo — a museum that will showcase the city’s interesting and valuable objects and historical items — is set by lunchtime. The day ends with the grand coronation of the Mutya ng Dabaw at the CAP auditorium.
“Kasaysayan Balikan, Ihanda Kinabukasan,” is the theme for this year’s Araw ng Dabaw. The event will showcase Davao as a progressing city.
“It will be a different kind of Araw ng Dabaw,” Reta assured. (Marilou M. Aguirre/davaotoday.com)
