Too bad athletes won’t get a chance to see live the lighting of the controversial cauldron during the opening of the 30th Southeast Asian Games this weekend.
The cauldron, widely criticized for its P50 million price tag, will be lit at the new Clark City track and field stadium, more than 70 kilometers away from Bulacan the venue of the opening ceremony.
The biggest regional event will formally kick off at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan where President Duterte, athletes, coaches and the public are expected to show up.
Some netizens wondered why the cauldron was placed far from the SEA Games opening ceremony, mocking organizers for such move.
“Elaborate opening prod as it may seem it will be based on their press release, still I find it a bit funny that the controversial P50M worth of cauldron is 90 km away (New Clark City) from the opening venue of the 30th SEA Games at the Philippine Arena at Bocaue in Bulacan,” @Xtian_1990 tweeted.
“SEA games opening at Bulacan, Cauldron at Clark Pampanga. Ang galing, via screen lang makikita sa opening,” @RaylRaylukban commented.
And while organizers take pride of the new Clark City sport facilities, only a few sporting events will reportedly be held in the area. The bulk of the SEA Games will be held elsewhere.
“Great to see that sports facilities at New Clark City are functioning well and organized. But let us remind ourselves this: on 56 sports events, only 2 events will be held in New Clark City, 9 others are held on other areas in Clark. The rest are spread out in Manila, Subic, etc,” @prinzmagtulis.
Great to see that sports facilities at New Clark City are functioning well and organized. But let us remind ourselves this: on 56 sports events, only 2 events will be held in New Clark City, 9 others are held on other areas in Clark. The rest are spread out in Manila, Subic, etc.
— Prinz Magtulis 프린즈 (@prinzmagtulis) November 26, 2019
SEA games opening at Bulacan, Cauldron at Clark Pampanga. Ang galing, via screen lang makikita sa opening. https://t.co/5TFUuKPncm
— Luke (@RaylRaylukban) November 25, 2019
Elaborate opening prod as it may seem it will be based on their press release, still I find it a bit funny that the controversial P50M worth of cauldron is 90 km away (New Clark City) from the opening venue of the 30th SEA Games at the Philippine Arena at Bocaue in Bulacan.
— Christian Olasiman (@Xtian_1990) November 23, 2019
sea games opening ceremony: philippine arena @ bocaue, bulacan
— Pami PH (@pami_ph) November 19, 2019
sea games kaldero: new clark city
potah babyahe pa ako sa nlex & sctex para lang sindihan yung kaldero? goise maawa kayo sakin wala nga akong mga kamay at paa eh pic.twitter.com/gGRwZbeajo
