Iloilo to mark 111th Independence Day celebration with various activities
The city and province of Iloilo will mark the 111th celebration of the country’s Independence this year with various activities focusing mostly on addressing the problem of recession brought about by the global economic crisis starting on June 12 up to 14.
The three-day event will kick-off with a mass at 6:00 o’ clock in the morning at the San Jose Parish Church. This will be followed by a flag raising, the Panunumpa Sa Watawat, wreath laying ceremony, releasing of balloons, lighting of firecrackers and distribution of malunggay seedlings/cuttings at the Plaza Libertad.
Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) Steward in Western Visayas Secretary Raul Gonzales will give the Independence Message during the event.
After the Plaza Libertad activities, the awarding of employment contracts/appointments, scholarship certificate award/education voucher and livelihood grants under the CLEEP of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to identified beneficiaries by concerned agencies will be conducted at the Amigo Plaza Mall.
Amigo Plaza Mall is also the venue of the job and livelihood fairs that will highlight the three-day celebration.
The first day of the job fair is set for government hiring. Available are unfilled plantilla positions and vacancies for short term employment in government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, amongst others.
The second and the third day of the job fair are for local and overseas employment, respectively.
Other activities on June 12 include lectures on plant propagation and flower arrangement with DA, housing clinique and orientation on AH1N1 virus.
Also, a free medical and dental service will be conducted on that day by the Department of Health, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Office of the Presidential Adviser for Regional Development in various participating stores and malls in the City of Iloilo.
The three-day event will also feature one-stop shop pre-employment services, skills demonstration, diskwento, legal assistance and on-line registration for the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) program, business registration and verification/ID generation.
The Department of Tourism 6 has also organized a 2-hour Cultural Presentation featuring Filipino Folk and Pop Dances woven into narration of how our forefathers fought for their freedom (Kagitingan) and preserved our heritage (Kagalingan) as pictured in our rituals, costumes, folk dances and livelihood (Kasipagan). This will be shown on June 11 as a pre-independence day entertainment and on June 12 from 4:00PM to 6:00PM at SM City Activity Center in Mandurriao district. (PIA)