SANTA RITA -- This year's 13th Duman Festival supposedly set last December 6 has been cancelled due to Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), organizers of the event said.
Organizers said that the event was cancelled after reports said that possible rains may be experienced in Pampanga. The festival, which is held in an open location may be compromised due to the possibility of heavy downpours.
Andy Alviz and his group Arti.StaRita started the festival in 2002, which originated from the long standing tradition of pounding and winnowing unripe glutinous rice (lacatan) and turning it into a light pale gold or green delicacy called "duman." The festival features alfresco dining were rows and rows of delicacy stalls would sell various pastries and native dishes of the town, with duman being the major highlight.
The food sold during the festival would include native pastry attractions of the town like sansrival, masa podridu, mamon and mamon tostado.
Alviz said that they will announce the rescheduled date for the festival once the weather improves.
Ruby was last spotted 20 kilometers east of Torrijos, Marinduque packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour near (kph) the center and gustiness up to 135 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 11:00 a.m. bulletin on Monday.
Ruby is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by 11 p.m. of Thursday.