Capitol opens founding fete today

CEBU Governor Gwen Garcia hopes representatives from the Province’s sister-cities and all Capitol officials will join in today’s opening ceremonies of the Province’s 443rd founding anniversary.

“We hope there will be the full participation of all our officials because this is the 443rd founding anniversary of this great province that we love dearly, the Province of Cebu,” Garcia told Sun.Star.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale confirmed her attendance but said she doesn’t know if the mayors of Cebu’s fifth district who are her party mates will attend.

“This is an event of the Province. There’s no advisory from our (party) chairman not to attend,” she said.

The fifth district is the bailiwick of Barug Alang sa Kalamboan ug Demokrasya (Bakud), of which nine out of 10 mayors are members.

Magpale said she hadn’t met any of the mayors from the district lately so she has no idea if they are attending.

Bakud members

Magpale and Bakud members did not show up during Garcia’s State of the Province Address last July 20.

Garcia said the activities for the month-long celebration will reflect how far Cebu has gone and how much it has achieved.

Garcia said she received a notice that Raul Celis, regional mayor of Valparaiso, Chile, is flying to Cebu for the occasion. Together with Celis are businessmen.

Garcia said invitations had been sent to the sister-provinces of Cebu, including the Province of Laguna.

Fifty-one flag poles were lined up in front of the Provincial Capitol for the flag-raising ceremony to represent the 44 municipalities and seven component cities of Cebu.

Memorandum

Eduardo Habin, provincial administrator, said a memorandum was sent to every department for all Capitol employees to attend the flag ceremony.

Asked about a salary bonus for the employees, Garcia said, “Huwaton nalang nila unya ang particular nga yugto diin mosulti na unya ko (They should wait for my announcement),” Garcia said.

Storm

The governor is grateful Cebu was spared from the storm that hit Luzon.

“I ask our brother and sister Cebuanos, labi na karon (especially today) on the occasion of the opening of our 443rd founding anniversary in the Province to say a prayer of thanks to our beloved Sto. Niño”, Garcia said.

An agro fair and photo exhibit will also open today, along with other activities, such as an air soft competition, a horse show, a volleyball competition, Turismo Sugbo and the e-Gwen project.