Happy Birthday Silay!

SILAY City is 55 years old.

"I AM proud to be a Silaynon” is the whoop of the Silaynons in their merry celebration. Mayor Jose Montelibano said that Silay has many events to be proud of. “As your city administrators, the city officials are here to pave the way and provide opportunities. We look forward in elevating the Silaynon socio-economic status in our human growth and development programs,” he said.

Our Kansilay Festival is a celebration of achievement and hope for the future. Our past is a memory forever. Our present is filled with challenges and accomplishments. Our future is rich with opportunities waiting to be explored.

In the past, we had gifted Negros Occidental with nine governors from Silay. Our haciendas produced the best sugar that made Negros economy alive. Miguel Yulo Unson was the Father of the Philippine Budget System. Sen. Jose Corteza Locsin was the Father of the Filipino First Policy.

Conchita Gaston was the Philippines’ mezzosoprano. She was famous as “Carmen” in the New York Center Opera Company. Leandro V. Locsin, the poet of space, was a national artist. Teodoro M. Locsin Sr. was a valiant journalist of the Philippine Free Press who fought Marcos dictatorship. Arsenio Jison was the first president of the Philippine National Bank. Alfredo Montelibano Sr. was the governor of free Negros during WWII and secretary of Defense and Interior in the Magsaysay administration. Ah, the list is endless.

In the past, Silay was the Paris of Negros. Today, Silay is the seat of arts, culture and ecotourism in Western Visayas. The heritage houses made Silay the bastion of architectural treasure. Silay is the home of the state-of-the-art airport of international standards. Our youth lay the foundation of the future government. San Diego Pro-Cathedral is the only pro-cathedral outside of Metro Manila.

Ecotourism projects and programs in Balaring and Patag are tourism potentials and gained the support of IKAW-AKO Japan-Negros Partnership for Environmental Protection and Japan International Cooperating Agency (Jica). Our delicacies and our shoreline restaurants are simply the best. The Adela Folklore Village is the reservoir of early traditions and literary assets.

The Girl Scout movement has amassed bundles of presidential chief medal awards. The Kabataang Silay Rondalla has given Silay a place in the world’s stage of music. We now have ensemble for violinists, guitarists and anklung. One stop shop is making business in Silay and provides incentives to investors. The Regional Development Council has agreed to meet in Silay to savor Silay’s culture.

Silaynons’ pride is in their being humble after receiving awards in tourism, agriculture, peace and order, health and wellness, governance, culture and finance management. Every Silaynon struggle is a step towards achievement and the struggle does not stop.

Silaynons are confident to face the future. There will always be unity, cooperation, peace and hard work to achieve the gift of the future. Proud Silaynons unite! We did it in the past when we made history on November 5, 1898. We have seen and felt what we have just done. Education is our way to get out from the hacienda maze. We are more ready to jump into the future by passing the challenges of today.

Silaynons, you are there now. No one can stop us. Happy Birthday!