'Food poisoning' downs 31 dancers

CEBU, Philippines - At least 31 dancers of Hinulawan Festival of Toledo City were reportedly downed by food poisoning after taking their breakfast yesterday.

The victims were immediately brought to the clinic of Cebu International Convention Center for treatment.

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Cristina Giango said they have yet to determine the cause of the illness as they still have to examine the food.

Giango refused to confirm whether the incident was caused by food poisoning.

     She said the victims just suffered loose bowel movement (LBM) and stomachache, and no other contingents suffered the same.

 Festival coordinator Titta Emelyn Arreglo said they were given packs for breakfast from a known fast-food chain supplied by the Capitol.

 Not all members of the Hinulawan Festival contingent have eaten the food because some of them have already eaten the food cooked by the kitchen crew of Toledo City government, she said.

 Arreglo suspected that the food given to them may have caused the LBM and stomachache because it downed almost all of the dancers who ate the food, which consisted of a foot-long hotdog, egg and rice.

 A Capitol staff said they have not received the report until the media told them about it.

 However, all dancers were still able to dance during the repeat performance of the winning contingents in last night’s awarding ceremony.

Hinulawan Festival placed ninth in the showdown competition of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals held at CICC Saturday evening. - (THE FREEMAN)