Makati and Silay are now sister cities
BACOLOD CITY -- The Cities of Makati and Silay, Negros Occidental are now considered sister cities following the signing of the sisterhood and twinning agreement between Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Mayor Jose "Oti" Montelibano yesterday.
Mayor Binay and his Councilors Armand Padilla, Elias Tolentino, Henry Jacome, Virgilio Hilario and Maria Theresa de Lara came to Silay City yesterday for the signing of the said agreements.
Vice Mayor Mark Andrew Golez and Councilors Michael Maravilla, Marie June Castro, Salvador Segovia, ABC President Joedith Gallego, Mario Torres, Ramon Jison, Jose Raymundo Locsin and Rosalinda Caja warmly welcomed Mayor Binay and party upon their arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport.
Mayor Binay was also grateful to spend time with the Boys Scouts and porters who wore a Binay t-shirts at the new airport.
Vice Mayor Golez led the group to the Gaston Ancestral house for the short program and lunch.
"We always feel privileged and honored that we are accepted to be a sister city of Silay. Our common grounds are we are Local Governments and secondly, there are cityhood concerns. Definitely, we can share as we always say in Makati we don't have a monopoly of good governance. We are here also to learn from our future sister," said Mayor Binay.
He added that they can exchange experience in governance and also socially and economically. Makati plans to establish its own "Heritage Zone" in cooperation with the Spanish government.
The first lesson he had in Silay is seeing the beautiful ancestral houses that are rich in history.
Vice Mayor Golez, on the other hand, said, "We in Silay are blessed because of the presence of Mayor Binay and his councilors in our city. To have Makati as our sister city is a great honor and a rare privilege. Makati is the Commercial and Financial Center of the Philippines. Our Silay City Councilors and other officials are here to share what we have done for our community and to learn from the officials of our sister city of its many programs that have brought them honor and respect, making it our country's premier city in terms of commerce and trade, entertainment and recreation."
He welcomed them by saying," We open to you not just our doors and windows but also our arms and hearts."