BIGGER CROWD EXPECTED IN TODAY’S 2ND ROUND OF DRAG RACE ELIMINATIONS

A bigger crowd is expected to top yesterday’s attendance of over 3,000 as the second round of the eliminations for the motorcycle drag race for the “1st Tulabong Festival” continues today, Feb. 10, in the 1.2-km concrete runway of the M’lang Airport or North Cotabato Airport in Barangay Tawantawan, M’lang.

Drag race coordinator Councilor Freddie Sales said foreign contingents of drag racers from as far as South Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Bukidnon, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Saranggani provinces are expected to compete in the eliminations today to earn the chance to race in the finals on Feb. 16.

Yesterday, Feb. 9, drag racers from M’lang competed with racers from Kidapawan City, Makilala, Kabacan and Tulunan to the delight of the huge crowd which filled the perimeters of the 1.2-km runway.

M’lang Mayor Lito Pinol, who signed an executive order declaring the 3rd week of February as the “Tulabong Festival” week to celebrate the realization of the dreamed airport in North Cotabato, said the drag race is free to the public.

The drag race is one of the major events organized to mark the “1st Tulabong Festival” in the M’lang Airport or North Cotabato Airport.

On Friday night, Feb. 15, a post-Valentine concert will be staged at the airport site. This will be preceded by a torch parade from Poblacion M’lang to the Airport site in Barangay Tawantawan.

Also on Feb. 15, the search for the Lakandula and Lakambini of the Tulabong Festival will be held prior to the concert.

On Feb. 16, as schoolchildren from the different elementary and high schools in M’lang gather at the airport, three skydivers will jump from the sky and land on the runway.

Two Ultra-light planes piloted by Capt. Rey Acosta and Australian Capt. Sam Mente will also be featured in an airshow expected to delight the townsfolk, especially the young students.

After the airshow, the finals of the motorcycle drag race, including special races for “habal-habal” motorcycles and tricycles will also be staged.

The activities on Feb. 16 will start at 5 a.m. with a Dawn Prayer to be led by the religious leaders of M’lang.

(photo credit: this photo was lifted from www.hellforleather.com)