Gov. Perez 'at home' in Silay
SILAY CITY – "I feel at home here in Silay City."
This was said by Antique Governor Salvacion Zaldivar Perez in her short message in front of Senate President Manny Villar, Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, in celebration of this city's 11thAdobo Festival and 3rd Muscovado Cooking Competition.
Perez recalled that her late husband Jose Gaston Perez used to be in Silay when he studied in Negros Occidental.
Perez proudly said that the name of her husband is written in the family tree located inside the 'Balay Negrense', a tourist destination of Silay City and venue of Adobo Festival and Muscovado Cooking Competition.
Perez expressed to Senate President Manny Villar her dismay over bickerings of politicians in Manila which she said contribute to a more divided Filipinos today.
Perez said, Visayas people are different, citing the One Visayas project in 2009 to be held in Cebu where Visayan people will unite in arts, culture and history.
The project is an initiative of Governor Gwen Garcia, the chairperson of Regional Development Council in Region VII and Governor Salvacion Perez, the chairperson of RDC-Region VI.
Perez also impliedly endorsed Villar for president in 2010 with marching hug and kiss after she delivered her message to Silaynons and visitors.
The governor also brought to the Silay some Antiqueños pride products like patadyong and handkerchief from Bugasong and other 'sweets' like bandi through the one and only booth located inside the grounds of 'Balay Negrense'.
Mayor Roberto Montelibano, on the other hand, thanked the presence of visitors for coming over to the city.