Bacolod City at 74: Photo Display Galore

JUNE 18, 2012 is a very significant date in the history of Bacolod City, as it was the first time that the Charter Day Anniversary Celebration was held based on the date of the actual signing of Commonwealth Act 326 by then Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon in 1938.

On that very memorable day, I witnessed the 74th Charter Day Anniversary Parade that winded up at the Bacolod City public plaza.

Next on my itinerary was the Photo Exhibit of Bacolod “Through the Years” which opened to the viewing public last June 12, 2012 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Event Center of SM City Bacolod.

Gracing the affair were City Officials led by Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Mrs. Elsa Leonardia, Dra. Marilyn Marañon, the members of the Circulo de Bacolod led by its president Miss Shirley Ledesma and Miss Jona Macaranas of the Bacolod City Archives.

As I made my way to SM City Bacolod, I came upon a historical marker whose white paint was marred by graffiti. I stopped by to read the words and, to my pleasant surprise, I learned that it was built in honor of Rev. Fr. Mauricio Ferrero OAR, a Spanish priest who planned the town of Bacolod and designated the location of the public plaza, the streets, the government center, the residential and commercial areas, the military headquarters and the cemetery. He served as the parish priest of Bacolod from 1871 to 1909. The marker further states that Fr. Ferrero built the San Sebastian Church and convent.

My mind absorbed this historical trivia as I continued walking to SM City Bacolod under the sweltering heat of the early afternoon sun. By three in the afternoon I was thankfully inside the cool interior of the glass-encased SM City Bacolod’s East Bridgeway where the photo exhibit was transferred from its original display area.

Along with black and white photos of Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon, Assemblyman Pedro Hernaez, House Speaker Gil Montilla and other influential politicians of yore was a DVD film showing of the accomplishments of the present day city government under the leadership of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

In the said DVD film, the rationale for the June 18 observance of the 74th Charter Day anniversary celebration was meticulously presented to the public at large.

City Ordinance No. 588 or the Commemoration Day of the Charter of the City of Bacolod Ordinance sets the observance on June 18 of this year and every year thereafter. Its main author is Councilor Caesar Distrito and it was approved on May 8, 2012.

Councilor Em Ang was the Chairman of the 74th Charter Day Committee of the city government for this year 2012.