109th Foundation Day and 62nd Death Anniversary of Pres. Roxas
The United States Philippine Commission, through Act No. 1115 titled ‘An act extending the provisions of the provincial government of Capiz,” established the provincial government of Capiz on April 15,1901.
Republic Act No. 9217 of the House of Representatives also declared April 15 of every year as President Manuel Acuña Roxas Memorial Day and designated it a special nonworking holiday for the entire province of Capiz and Roxas City in honor of Roxas, the first President of the Philippine Republic and the last President of the Commonwealth.
Roxas died of heart attack on April 15,1948 at Clark ‘s Air Field while delivering an impassioned speech in defense of democracy.
For this year, April 15 falls on a Thursday.
The Capiz provincial board on Feb. 21,2003 also passed Ordinance No. 02-S-2003 declaring April 15 of every calendar year as the “Foundation Day of the Province of Capiz and to celebrate said occasion with a fitting activity.”
The present administration of Gov. Victor Tanco Sr., holding sacred the historical past, culture and legacies left by our forebears and adhering to the slogan “Labi sa Tanan ang Tawo,” has deemed it fit that the forthcoming 109th Foundation Day of the Province of Capiz be remembered not only by the provincial government and the other local government units (LGUs) but also by multisectoral sectors.
This year, the provincial government has lined up a series of activities for the celebration, which has been dubbed as CAPIZ tahan since 2008.
But what is noteworthy among the activities is the Dance Xchange: 2nd Philippine International Dance Workshop and Festival, which includes artist fora, dance workshops, festival of dances, and outreach performances. The dance festival opens on April 15 until April 19 and is expected to draw some 1,000 international and local delegates.
To institutionalize the holding of the celebration, the Capiz provincial board passed Ordinance No. 01-s-2009 “Naming the celebration of the Capiz Province of its Charter Anniversary every April 15 as CAPIZtahan.”
CAPIZtahan aims to raise the level of “sense of pride” of every Capiznon and celebrate— through multisectoral participation— the same spirit, determination and efforts of our forefathers that led to the creation of the civil government of Capiz.
The celebration has listed the following as its specific objectives:
- *To foster the role of all sectors of the community for the development of the province;
- *To showcase the historical and cultural heritage of the province in the context of participatory governance; and
- *To cultivate good citizenry among Capiznons in achieving cultural excellence. (CAPIZtahan 2010 Publicity and Promotions Committee)
