PGMA graces Kalibo Ati-atihan fest, gets warm Aklanon welcome
Kalibo, Aklan -- "Viva Kay Seņ;or Sto. Niņo! Viva!", President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo chanted before the throngs of parishioners, visitors and tourists who welcomed and shook hands with her, as she held aloft the statue of the Child Jesus after experiencing the traditional "Paeapak" at the Kalibo Cathedral here on her first visit this year to Aklan which coincided with the celebration of the Kalibo Sto. Niņo Ati-atihan Festival.
PGMA's "Paeapak", officiated by Diocese of Kalibo Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo and assisted by Kalibo Parish Priest Msgr. Jose Dollete, was one of her activities during her visit to Aklan.
She then proceeded to the Capt. Gil Mijares Building that houses the Kalibo PNP Station just across the Kalibo Cathedral to meet with Aklan provincial and municipal officials, the media and the throngs of people, Ati-atihan groups and revelers who have gathered in front of the building to witness her visit.
"Thank you for making Aklan the center of Philippine tourism bringing progress to the province of Aklan, Ati-atihan and Boracay. We would want to ask the tourists to come back again. I have instructed the release of P55 million for the instrument landing system so that other countries can come to the province of Aklan", was her short address to Aklanons and hundreds of tourists in the Philippines and all over the world when she stood at the balcony of the building to wave to the crowd.
During her visit, PGMA also inaugurated the five classrooms of the Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades (ANHSAT) at Barangay Andagao, Kalibo, distributed DepEd textbooks, DENR land titles and Philhealth cards.
The inauguration and distribution were held at ANHSAT grounds upon her arrival from the airport.
The ANHSAT classrooms were constructed from January 2005 to October 2005 with a total budget cost of P1,697,000, sourced from the 2002 and 2003 Regular School Building Fund, while the land titles numbering 132 were for 91 beneficiaries covering almost 30 hectares situated in ten Aklan towns.
Education is the theme of PGMA's presidential visits to various areas of the country for the period.
All throughout her activities conducted during the visit, Aklan's provincial and municipal officials, led by Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores, Governor Carlito S. Marquez, Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo and all other mayors of Aklan towns were with PGMA.
She was especially invited by the above-mentioned provincial officials to visit the province in time for the Kalibo Ati-atihan celebration to make this year's celebration more memorable and significant not only to Aklanons but to visitors and tourists as well. (PIA)