|
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Arrival of Milpitas mayor to highlight 'Pawil 2003'
The arrival of Milpitas, California Mayor Jose Esteves, who will head a five-member delegation, will further cement the sisterhood relationship between Dagupan and Milpitas forged earlier this year.
The visit of Esteves, who will wind up his stay in the city on Dec. 30, also serves as one of the highlights of the "Pawil 2003" program, which is expected to be participated in by some 300 Dagupenos living and working in various major cities and counties in the United States.
With the Milpitas mayor is Romeo Manuel, president of the Association of Dagupenos of Northern California.
Dagupan Mayor Benjamin Lim and Esteves signed last April 15 this year a memorandum of understanding when the former made a trip to the US to promote the Pawil program and the export of the famous Bonoan bangus to Fil-American communities.
Under the sisterhood ties, both cities agreed to foster goodwill and friendship, exchange visits of city officials and residents of Milpitas and Dagupan.
Lim and Esteves also agreed to exchange ideas and information that contribute to the further improvement of existing service delivery systems used by both cities.
Esteves, a native of Lasip-Grande, Dagupan, migrated to Milpitas where he succeeded in his entrepreneurial venture and later earned respect and admiration among residents there.
He will be conferred the Jose Rizal Leadership Award, the highest award under the Pawil program, on Dec. 30.
Other balikbayans, especially the early Dagupeno migrants, will be conferred the Pillar Awards.
Milpitas, a short one-and-a-half-hour drive from San Francisco, is known for its Silicon Valley, the so-called microchips capital of the world.
The sisterhood agreement also called for the possible expansion of the focus area to include cultural and student exchange with the involvement of established organizations such as the Jaycees, Rotary Club and Lions International.
Melandrew Velasco, a public relations executive, was commissioned by Mayor Lim to help forge the sisterhood agreement, promote the Pawil Dagupan 2003 in other cities of the US and arrange links with market outlets for the export of Dagupan bangus.
The Pawil program was initiated in l993 by then Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.
Last year, the Chicago Association of Dagupenos, through its past president, Lily Collado Starkum, donated US$4,000 to the city government of Dagupan.
On arrival, Esteves and party will pay a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang. They will be accompanied by Mayor Lim. The party will also call on Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.
On Dec. 21, the city government will tender a dinner for Esteves' party and recognition rites for the Milpitas Sister Commission.
(December 14, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
