CLARK FREEPORT – An estimated 60,000 people watched the spectacular fireworks display at the second day of the SM City Clark Pyrofest Competition over the weekend here where the entry from Bulacan won first place.
As in the first day of the competition held a week earlier, traffic was horrendous as motorists numbering close to
20,000 were recorded by SM guards who give out parking tickets including motorcycles to those entering the mall
premises.
Inside the mall, a virtual sea of people moved towards SM Clark’s Meeting Place located at the back of the mall as the program started at 7 pm. Ana Datu, SM City Clark mall manager, said the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) estimated the crowd at around 60,000 as well as the Philippine National Police.
Datu said vehicles were parked as far as the Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. located near the Clark South entrance to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
Compounding the traffic snarl was the second day of the ongoing “Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan (Music and Dancing
on the Street)” along the MacArthur Highway in Balibago, Angeles City which is just a kilometer away from SM.
Meanwhile, the entry from Laguna emerged second place and the entry from Cotobato City placed third. The first
place finisher got P200,000 prize money while the second place got P150,000 and the third P100,000.
Singapore displayed its finest fireworks exhibition last Nov 23 while Malaysia got a chance to showcase its fireworks mastery a week later last Saturday to the delight of the crowds. Mabalacat City Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, who was with his family at the event, said SM City Clark has succeeded in becoming a wholesome family destination more than its much vaunted label as a shopping mecca.
