Leonardia: PGMA agrees to make Oct. 20 holiday for Bacoleños
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Evelio Leonardia proudly said the other day that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed in principle to make October 20, the day after Masskara Festival highlights, a non-working holiday in Bacolod City.
Leonardia said he made the personal appeal to Pres. Arroyo when he got the chance to talk to her and the president said it is okay.
Earlier, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod passed Resolution 698 requesting Arroyo to issue a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 20 as a non-working holiday in Bacolod City.
This was based on the mayor's request considering that the 70th Charter Anniversary of Bacolod falls on a Sunday.
Leonardia said it is just a matter of making it official and the president herself instructed Presidential Adviser on the Western Visayas Raul Banias to process it with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
The mayor delivered his speech in the public plaza Wednesday (Oct. 1) using Hiligaynon dialect because he knew that President Arroyo is also a Bacoleño and Negrense by heart because her husband Mike, is a native of Negros.
The President on the other spoke in front of thousands spectators using the same dialect.
Leonardia is very happy because it is first time in the history of Masskara for 29 years that no less the highest official of the republic graced the occasion.
The 2008 MassKara Festival will revolve around the theme, "Bacolod, City of the World."
The mayor in his speech was proud in saying that the world famous Masskara Festival has been invited to join the International Mask Arts and Culture Organization (IMACO).
Fresh from Andong City, South Korea, Leonardia said the IMACO headed by Andong City Mayor Kim Whi-dong is a worldwide cultural group and the invitation from them is a great privilege and opportunity for the city to again promote its very unique festivity.