53 entries set to vie for prizes in kitefest

Fifty-three entries from 25 barangays in Cebu City will compete in this year's Kite Flying Festival on April 22 at the South Reclamation Project Open Field wherein over P143,000 in cash prizes and trophies are at stake. In a press conference yesterday, councilor Eduardo Rama, Jr. said that the Cebu City Youth Development Commission has sustained the organizing of this festival that is directed at developing the youth's talents, skills, and spirit of sportsmanship; providing opportunity to develop camaraderie among the youth, and reviving kite flying as a Filipino tradition.

The contest is open to all residents of Cebu City, 13 to 18 years old. Contestants are required to group into four to six members per entry.

Contestants shall be given 10 minutes to prepare their kites for take off and must be in their respective assigned posts. All kites must be in stable condition, and must stay on the air for 20 minutes with an altitude of 50 feet or less.

A 2-point deduction shall be effected to the contestant for every crash or falling to the ground within the 20 minutes given time. The point deductions shall be taken from the overall score of the contestants. The kites shall be evaluated based on Originality of the Design - 40 percent, Artistry and Creativity - 40 percent, and Visual Impact - 20 percent.

Gina Yosores, event organizer, said that they already distributed invitation letters to Cebu City barangays from February 27 to March 3. Last March 9, they held their orientation and or briefing for the southern barangays in Mambaling and that last March 10, the northern barangays were given their orientation and entry forms.

The deadline was set on March 24, where the 25 participating barangays, 10 from the north and 15 from the south, submitted 53 entries.

From April 11 to 14, the CCYDC held a physical inspection on all participating entries to see whether or not these have followed the guidelines for the required minimum height, which is 6 feet, and the minimum width, which is four feet, excluding the tails. Three judges will decide on choosing the winners. The first prize winner will get P15,000 plus a trophy, while the second and third prize winners will receive P10,000 and P8,000 and trophies, respectively.

Non-winners will still receive P2,000 each as consolation prizes. A P5,000 prize shall also be given to the most attractive and most creative kites. The awarding ceremony will follow immediately after the contest.

For security purposes, police officers and ambulances will be deployed around the contest venue. Ten multicabs shall also be prepared to transport the contestants and the audience from the Cebu City Hall to the contest venue and back. Fifteen tents shall also be pitched and or installed.

Rama believes that although only 25 barangays participated in the kite flying festival this year, CCYDC still achieved its aim to provide a holistic development program for the youth. Vendors will be allowed in the venue provided they pay P100 as business permit for the day.

The CCYDC is organizing 17 activities for the whole year, including a Drama Fest, a Tartanilla Festival, and a Youth Congress. - Noreen B. Napoles