LUCENA CITY –– The annual “Hambujan Festival” in Dolores, Quezon at the foot of mystical Mount Banahaw has been postponed due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) scare.
The local tourism office announced the suspension in a post on its Facebook page “Dolores Tourism: Faith and Wellness Destination” on Tuesday.
The postponement was ordered by Mayor Orlan Calayag as a precautionary measure to protect the health of the locals from possible infection from the virus.
“The health of the citizens is our priority,” the post said in Filipino and asked for public understanding of the local government decision.
The tourism office said the local government would focus on the prevention of COVID-19 following President Duterte’s Proclamation Number 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines due to the outbreak of the dreaded virus.
The festival, which draws out-of-town visitors and international tourists, is scheduled to be held on May 1 to 3.
The feast symbolizes “the ceremony of acceptance of guests from other places, who come to present themselves with gifts of friendship and proposal of unity,” the official blog site of the local government explained.
The fiesta highlights the colorful street dancing competition and religious rituals in honor of the town’s patron saint, the Our Lady of Sorrows.
Meanwhile, Alberto Bay, Quezon tourism officer, also announced the cancellation of “Women Forum in Tourism and Business” in Metro Pacific Mall here.
Bay said they would just be having “Women Art Exhibit” on March 27-29 in the same venue.