Despite El Nino, Kidapawan fiesta to proceed politicians excluded

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Despite El Nino, the city’s 18thfounding day celebrations this February will proceed with fanfare but sans politicians, especially those running in the national positions. City Mayor Joseph Evangelista said a ‘modest’ amount was allotted for the weeklong celebrations which will kick off on Feb 7 with the carnival costume parade, music, and dance festival. This, he stressed, was despite the fact that residents are still reeling from the effects of El Nino, which hit the city last December. We won’t forget El Nino.In fact, funds have been released for that.But our city’s foundation anniversary will proceed as scheduled,” the mayor said in a press briefing here. Also, he said the city government won’t invite politicians to become speakers in any of the activities during the celebrations. It has been our policy, since we started this carnival-themed fiesta in 2013 that our main speaker is our last year’s Kidapawan hero… No, we did not invite politicians, be they local or those seeking national posts in May 2016,” he explained. The city started in 2013 the, Kidapawan City Carnival” with a theme, Celebrating Life, Sustaining Peace, and Envisioning Prosperity.” He said that one of the highlights of the celebrations is the annual search for Kidapawan Hero or an individual, who has exemplified class, dignity, and honor and live their lives in a manner that makes residents of Kidapawan proud and a true hero.” He added that it is not fitting to invite politicians especially during election period. Among the highlights to the city’s 18thfounding day include grand fireworks and pyro-musical show, carnival street dancing, color fund run, Paralympics, acoustic challenge, BMX and scooter freestyle show, and amateur boxing tournaments.