By Manny Pinol
Unfazed by a terror attack where an bomb exploded and killed three youngsters and wounded 24 others last Sunday, the brave people of my hometown mark the last day of the week-long Kawayanan Festival today with a free boxing event and a basketball championships in the town plaza.
Featured in the main events of today’s fight card staged by Sonshine Sports Management are the first fighting twins of the Philippines, flyweight Jake and Jade Bornea of Arakan town.
The basketball championships will be between two teams composed of local basketball players.
M’lang Mayor Lito Pinol said the free boxing will start at 2 p.m. in open air at the plaza under the shade of the giant Acacia trees which are half-a-century old.
Sonshine Sports TV will cover the boxing event to be shown in a delayed telecast on SMNI Channel 49 which is backed by religious leader Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
Yesterday, thousands joined the parade around the town’s streets and gathered for the Lechonan Competition where almost all barangays participated.
Late last night, the town crowned its most beautiful lass in a celebration marred by a commotion caused by a bag abandoned by a student near the comfort room of the gym.
“I thank God that the week ended with no untoward incident. We have shown to the world that the people of M’lang are brave and will never be intimidated by terrorist groups,” Mayor Pinol said.
Following the bombing which will killed three teenage boys, there were calls to cancel the celebration but the town’s officials and majority of the people refused to be intimidated.
Muslim and Christian residents of the town whose name was taken from the Maguindanao word for bamboo – Tamlang – helped guard the town along with soldiers and policemen who kept a close watch of the celebration venues.
“I thank all of those who helped ensure peace and security in the town during the celebration and all of those who prayed for us,” Mayor Pinol.
“We have shown once again the courage of the people of this town and displayed our great resolve to live the way we want to live and not to be intimidated by terror groups,” the Mayor added.
(Credits: Bornea twins photo by Manolet Santiago; Lechonan photo downloaded from Taga M’lang Takon Facebook page)
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