Bacolod celebrates 71st Charter Day
Bacolod City is celebrating today its 71st Charter Day with a whole-day activity that is highlighted by the traditional civic-military parade.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, city officials and guests, signaled the start of the Charter Day celebration via a simultaneous countdown held at the fountain area of the NGC, Lacson and Araneta Streets, and the Fountain of Justice at the Bacolod City Hall midnight of October 18 with the usual fireworks and concert topbilled by Sugarfree, Bugoy Drilon and Laarni Lozada of the Pinoy Dream Academy.
Leonardia said that this year’s theme, Bacolod...Moving Beyond Expectations, will highlight the city’s resiliency in the midst of global recession that hit many countries worldwide. The mayor said that Bacolod continued to post economic growth and flourishing businesses despite the crisis.
The celebration goes full gear today with a thanksgiving mass to be held at the New Government Center at 7 a.m. and a program at 9 a.m. with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as guest of honor. The program will feature the unveiling of the Gonzaga marker, located at the NGC lobby that is set up in honor of the Gonzaga family who donated the lot where the NGC now stands.
The program will also give way to the awarding of this year’s Banwahanon Awards, the Dungganon nga Bacolodnon Award, the Most Outstanding Taxpayers, Most Outstanding Government Employees, and other special citations to individuals and groups who worked actively for the betterment of the city.
The Banwahanon Award Committee announced this year’s awardees as follows: Atty. Francisco B. Cruz for his selfless and free legal service extended to the poor and his vigilance and devotion to the practice of law for over 40 years. He was also cited for his untiring effort to give an example of law as the vehicle for justice and peace;
Ma. Dolores Villarosa Ramos, Ph.D. for her dedication in the field of education that touched the lives of young people in various institutions of learning in Bacolod and her research that contributed to the development of the communities of the city; and
Milagros L. Ong for her generosity of time, talent and treasure that benefit the poor and the community especially the disadvantaged and the abandoned.
A civic-military parade, that kicks off at 1 p.m., is participated by the city government officials and employees, schools, civic and private organizations, private establishments, police and military.
The parade starts at the Capitol lagoon and will culminate at the SM Mall.