Ilonggo pride up as Ambassadors visit Iloilo-Guimaras
THE DIGNITARIES from various counties pose for a
souvenir photo outside the Molo Cathedral. They
attended the coronation of Jaro Festival Queen
Camille Aguilar Villar on the feast day of Our Lady
of Candles on Feb.2. (From left) Mr. Oscar Lopez
and wife Connie, Ambassador of France Ruben
Fedele, Ambassador to France Jose Zaide,
Ambassador to Italy Gerard Chesnel and wife
Madam and Jay Lopez.
Doors of Ilonggo hospitality were once again opened to the world as foreign diplomats were in town for a recent two-day visit to Iloilo and Guimaras.
Playing hosts to the envoys are distinguished members of the Lopez clan who traces their roots to said provinces. With a quick tour around the sights and sounds of the city, Ambassador and Madam Gerard Chesnel of France joined Ambassador and Mrs. Jose Zaide, Ambassador to France and Ambassador Rubens Fedele, Ambassador to Italy in gracing the grand Jaro Fiesta celebration. A first for the city and the Ilonggos, the presence of said international Envoys brought yet more pride to the locals as sentiments of gratitude poured in for the Lopez family. Fiesta Queen Camille Villar is the daughter of Senator Manny Villar and Congresswoman Cynthia Villar, a close family friend of the Lopezes.
It was also to be an opportunity for the Ambassadors and their spouses and members of the visiting Diplomatic corps to see the island-province of Guimaras.
Oscar Lopez and wife Connie along with son Jay personally toured the group with a stop in the famous Guimaras tourist spot, Roca Encantada Lopez mansion. It was to be a homecoming of some sort as well for the Lopezes, with Guimaras once under the administration of then Governor and Lone District Congresswoman Emily Relucio-Lopez, wife of former Iloilo Second District Congressman Albertito Lopez.
Mayor Jerry Treņas in an interview said this year's Jaro Fiesta celebration continues to truly live up to the expectations of the Ilonggos. This as he added, that the Ilonggo spirit lives on in the efforts shown by great Ilonggo families like the Lopezes.
Similar sentiments shared by City Councilor Ely Estante, former broadcast journalist who has since expressed his high regard to the Lopez family.
"They help us bring the world closer to Iloilo and the Ilonggos," Councilor Estante said. "Of all the big Ilonggo families, it is still the Lopezes who actually bring back the glory to our city either by investments or by bringing important people to us here."