Mayor gets ‘blessing for victory’

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia received on Tuesday the blessing of Fr. Naring de la Cruz who prayed that he may have the strength to claim victory in the next year’s polls.

The mayor plans to run for Congress in the lone district of Bacolod City.

Leonardia, with his family, friends, city employees, barangay leaders and supporters, celebrated mass at Forest Park Tuesday to commemorate his 60th birthday.

Leonardia has openly stated his plans to run for Congress, although he has not officially declared it yet.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the best gift they gave the mayor was the full support of the members of the City Council for the mayor’s priority projects.

BACOLOD. City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, with wife Elsa and daughter Kara, blows the candle of his birthday cake Tuesday. (Daryl Jimenea)

The vice mayor wished that Leonardia may have more birthdays to come.

He said in jest that this year is a milestone for the mayor as he will now be receiving his senior citizen’s ID.

Former councilor Ricardo Tan wished that, as Leonardia celebrates his birthday next year, his cake will already have a congressional seal on top of it.

He said he and his wife could not think of a fitting gift for the mayor other than their commitment to support him in his plan to run for Congress in 2013.

Councilor Roberto Rojas wished Leonardia good health and hoped that the mayor’s dreams for Bacolod will soon be realized.

Councilor Sonya Verdeflor wished that the mayor will have an intimate time with his family, as his family takes the second or last priority due to the demands of his job.

“May his birthday be filled with love of family,” she said.