DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 April) – Delegates from the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) surprised student athletes and other visitors with a popular “budots” dance, drawing boisterous cheers from the crowd at the opening day of the 62nd Palarong Pambansa (National Games) at the Football Stadium of the 20-hectare Davao City-UP Mindanao Sports Complex on Sunday.
A familiar sound was blasted on the background shortly after the DAVRAA athletes came in and danced their way through the stadium, much to the delight of the delegates from the country’s 17 regions and other eager visitors who braved the afternoon heat to witness the two-hour parade.
Davao Region delegates perform the “budots” dance during the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao City on 28 April. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
DAVRAA volleyball coach Dinri Yambao said student athletes entertained the crowd with a quick performance to satisfy the curiosity of the visitors on “budots,” as Davao is famous for this street dance.
The vibrant cultures of the different tribes of Mindanao were also showcased at the start of the opening ceremony for the Palarong Pambansa, the biggest local sporting event in the country. Organizers expected to draw in 20,000 visitors.
Six skydivers from the Philippine Airforce (PAF) impressed the audience with their stunt, jumping off the helicopters and gliding in the air for several moments before landing in the stadium.
This is the second time that the City of Davao is hosting the annual multi-sport event since 1950 or 69 years earlier. In 2015, the City of Tagum in Davao del Norte hosted the 58th edition of the national games.
The world-class sports complex was inaugurated on January 27 during the DAVRAA Meet 2019.
The Palaro games are spread across 26 different venues in the city.
Visitors fill in the Football Stadium of the the Davao City-UP Mindanao’s Sports Complex for the opening of the 62nd Palarong Pambansa (National Games) on Sunday, 28 April 2019. MindaNews photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV
The archery football, swimming, and volleyball competitions will be held at the Davao City-UP Mindanao Sports Complex; arnis and aero gymnastics in Malayan Colleges Mindanao; athletics, basketball, softball, and volleyball in University of Mindanao; badminton in Barangay Calinan gymnasium; baseball in Lt. Villafuerte Elementary School; sepak takraw and softball in Davao City National High School; basketball in University of Southeastern Philippines; basketball in Rizal Memorial Colleges; table tennis in Barangay Toril Gymnasium; boxing in Davao City Recreation Center; chess in Davao Chong Hua High School; football in Tiongko Football Field; futsal in Barangay Mintal Gymnasium; gymnastics in University of Immaculate Concepcion; wushu in Precious International School of Davao; pencak silat in St. Peter’s College of Toril; rhythmic gymnastics in San Pedro College (Ulas Campus); tennis in Ecoland Phase 1, 2, and 4; tennis in GSIS Heights Tennis Club; wrestling in St. John Paul II College of Davao; baseball in Tacunan National High School/Tacunan Elementary School; bocce in Davao City SPED Elementary School; dance sports in Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus; basketball in Holy Cross of Davao College; taekwondo in Gaisano Mall of Toril; and billiards in Gaisano Grand Citygate Mall. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
