SANTA MAGDALENA, SORSOGON — All scheduled activities for the “Kasanggayahan” festival in Sorsogon province were postponed on Tuesday, Oct. 22, as Kristine intensified into a tropical storm, the Sorsogon Public Information Office announced on Monday night.
Some of the major highlights of Tuesday’s events are the provincial drum and lyre corps competition and the preliminary swimsuit competition of Miss Kasanggayahan Philippines.
Netizens expressed dismay over the late notice and “lack of anticipation” from the organizers.
“The Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) did not fail in giving updates regarding the weather. They should have announced it earlier so the participants were not prompted to travel,” said a netizen about the participants of the drum and lyre competition, who were already in the city in anticipation of the event.
Another netizen wrote: “They [organizers] said it [drum and lyre competition] will proceed rain or shine. The children had their blockings under the rain. The parents and teachers had expenses.”
Details regarding the resumption of the postponed events are yet to be announced.
The Pagasa Southern Luzon raised a red rainfall warning in Sorsogon, indicating flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
The same rainfall warning was also raised in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Northern Samar.
Pagasa reported in its 5 a.m. bulletin that Kristine sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 80 kilometers per hour. It was last spotted 390 kilometers east of Virac town in Catanduanes.
All the provinces in Bicol were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, the agency added.