Monday, August 20, 2007 Parade props trigger 2 power line blasts By Carlo P. Mallo
FESTIVAL props tripped off power lines causing revelers to scuttle near Rizal Park on Saturday and Sunday during the culmination highlights of Kadayawan sa Dabaw.
Aside from the two incidents, however, everything turned out fun complete with a cooperative weather that allowed the street dancing and the floral float parade under some clouds to temper the heat of the sun.
The night parties, however, were consistently accompanied by heavy downpour, which failed to stop the parties, anyway.
At the height of Saturday's Indak-indak sa Dalan, a confetti launcher hit a hanging power line along San Pedro Street just in front of the Rizal Park Stage where guests and judges sat, triggering a short circuit that was accompanied by a crackling explosion, scuttling the crowd in the process.
Davao City Police Director Jaime Morente said Acting Mayor Sara Duterte immediately ordered the transfer of the street dancing competition within Rizal Park to ensure participants and the viewing public's safety even when it was already ascertained that the power source has been turned off.
Morente added that the police officers fielded in the area immediately responded to the semi-panicked crowd who heard a pop before the power went out.
Meanwhile, confetti launchers were also behind the explosion in the same area during the Floral Float Parade on Sunday.
Like on Saturday, the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Davao City Police Office was immediately dispatched to the area.
The rainfall during the weekend did not dampen the festive spirits of the Dabawenyos during the celebration of the Kadayawan festival over the weekend.
Young people and adults alike trooped to the various nightspots in the city.
Shoppers trooped to the city's main malls as the big networks brought in their biggest stars from Metro Manila.
All shopping centers in the city celebrated the Kadayawan with midnight sales on Saturday.
Foreign tourists also abound; a lot of Japanese, Koreans, and Caucasians were spotted along the city's main thoroughfares and tourist spots.
Even Saturday night's heavy downpour failed to keep Dabawenyos and their visitors from the city's night spots.
All hotels in the city were fully booked even as early as Thursday.
Airline companies also had to add more flights in order to accommodate the number of visitors flying in to the city over the weekend.
Despite the changes in this year's celebration of the Kadayawan Festival, there was still an outpouring of support for this year's celebration.
Security was high during the week-long celebration.
The Davao City police were augmented by 200 recruits and 148 scout rangers making a total of 1500 personnel deployed in different parts of the city.
About 300 of them were deployed along the main thoroughfares where the street dancers would pass.
After the show, Davao City Administrator Wendel Avisado said he is happy that the festivities went on and ended successfully even with the incident.
"It was not of our own making and we are proud to have been able to put-up a show that has entertained our visitors and have made the locals feel special and appreciated," Avisado said.
