SAGAY City’s “Adlaw sa Suba” held at the Himoga-an River in Barangay Fabrica wharf drew a large crowd of spectators from the different part of the city and the rest of Negros Occidental.

“Adlaw sa Suba” was a one-day event with activities such as riverbank clean-up, tree planting and paddle boat racing.

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Sagay City Councilor Kent Javelosa said “this project is in line with our desire to maintain the momentum for our Himoga-an River cruise project at the same time with our collective desire to preserve our river.”

“It is important that we protect and preserve our natural resources as it is not anymore just about tourists or tourism but it is really about ensuring that our next generations may be able to enjoy God’s creation,” he added.

Javelosa also said that “though our resources are limited but with the active cooperation and commitment of everyone, we made history.”

Participating barangays planted about 1,500 acacia mangium seedlings; others started cleaning up the shoreline and riverbank starting from barangay Old Sagay passing through Himoga-an Baybay with their improvised nets as early as 6 a.m. until they reached Fabrica-Paraiso area.

Participating barangays included Fabrica headed by barangay captain Merle Demavibas, Paraiso headed by Eufemio Doronila, Old Sagay headed by Felisa de la Cruz and Himoga-an Baybay headed by Isaias Montaño.

Eighteen teams comprising two boatmen participated in the “Palumba sa Suba”. There were three preliminary rounds with the top two racers vying for the final round. First place, second place and third place winners were Juniel Seno and Danilo Seno, Carlos Andrin and Rodel Lomabat, Patrick Borromeo and Rolly Tenerife, respectively, who received P3,500, P2,500 and P1,500. Residents flocked to the riverbank to watch the race.

Present during the event were city councilors lawyer Beethoven Fuentesfina, lawyer Barbara Ann Tolentino, Samson Añalucas and Zaldy Bismar; Sagay marine reserve head Mayo Antonio Cueva, Sagay City police head Gabriel Guiterrez and Solid Waste Management Council head Manuel Lopez.

“Before the launching of the river cruise, one of the nagging problems is the cleanliness along the river. With more and more residents supporting the project, in just a few months, we can now see the difference,” said Javelosa.

An essay writing contest was also held with participants submitting their entries on the theme: “Memoirs of Fabrica”.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 4, 2009.