A GROUP of artists in Bacolod City offered their assistance to the city government for the painting of outdoor murals on the concrete walls at the Burgos public cemetery.

It is part of the 80th year celebration of Bacolod City.

Brenda Burdeos, a project facilitator and head of City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office (CCLDO), said the Bacolodnon artists will paint historical murals on the walls at the Burgos Public Cemetery from 1938 to present.

She said the artists will paint the city's development, especially during the administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

"The murals will show icons and images telling on graphical forms important events that happened in Bacolod City to the present times," she added.

Rafael Burdeos, mural concept and designer, said the first scene or mural number one, onlookers can see the theme for the city's 80th Charter Day Celebration, "Full Speed Ahead" espoused by the key leaders Mayor Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Congressman Greg Gasataya.

He said mural number two will show the significance of the agriculture, especially of sugarcane farming and sugar (muscovado) production as Bacolod, the capital of Negros Occidental which is the sugar bowl of the Philippines.

Mural number three is the Cinco de Noviembre revolt of the Negrenses against the Spaniards; mural number 4 four, the modernization of sugar milling; mural number five, the signing of the Charter of Bacolod by President Manuel Quezon; mural number six, depicts the dark moments in Negros Occidental; and mural number seven, the MassKara Festival.

"We are doing this for the people of Bacolod for free," he added.

The artists already started the cleaning of the walls at Burgos Public Cemetery and they will finish the painting before the celebration of the city's Charter Day on June 18.

For his part, Leonardia said he is thankful to the artists for doing it for free.

He said he already directed the CCLDO to coordinate with the City Engineers Office to put lights in the area.

Policemen will also be deployed along Burgos Public Cemetery to monitor and secure the murals.

The mayor will ask the city council to review the vandalism ordinance to give it more teeth and make the penalties maybe even stiffer.

"We cannot allow that vandalism will continue because we are beautifying the city," Leonardia said.