RAINY KADAYAWAN. The opening ceremonies for the 30th Kadayawan Festival in Davao City was cut short due to heavy rains. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – The opening ceremony for the 30th Kadayawan Festival was cut short due to heavy rains here Monday afternoon.
As the program host called on the 11 candidates of the Hiyas ng Kadayawan, the heavy rains started prompting the public to run towards the Rizal Park stage for shelter.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who was present during the program, said it is expected if the opening program did not go on as planned since the region is affected by the rains in the country.
“You know Davao, [it] rains almost everyday. Early evening or late afternoon. But you know sa precipitation malaki na talaga ang tubig ngayon (the water is really big now) because of climate change,” Duterte told the members of the press shortly after the program was cut.
Duterte said the Kadayawan schedule will continue tomorrow. “It (the rain) interrupted our opening program. I guess we cannot do it tonight, then tomorrow, as scheduled, Kadayawan will continue,” he said.
As per schedule, the longest running competition Sayaw Mindanaw will be held at the Davao City Recreation Center on Tuesday.
Kadayawan Executive Committee spokesperson Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, however, said they will continue holding the opening ceremony on Thursday afternoon. (davaotoday.com)
