SCHOOLS division superintendent of Silay City, Dr. Roselyn J. Palcat, has allowed her teachers to be involved in a research work that would be featured at the International Rondalla Festival Exhibit. The venue is the former Silay Puericulture Center (just renovated) on November 3 to 11, 2018.
Silay is the second town in Negros to become a city; Bacolod in 1938, then Silay in 1957. At times (as Silaynons), we have this meeting of the minds over a cup of coffee on things about our beloved hometown. At Jojen’s, we have ‘La Mesa de la Libertad’ and at El Ideal there is the square table with Ramon Conlu, Councilor Aileen Javier, Dodong Melgar, Ramon Hofilena, and yours truly.
To make things official, Councilor Javier is able to secure some documents from Marianito M. Dimaandal, the director of Malacanang Records Office. All these have been counter-checked by Ramon Conlu (a researcher friend and a descendant from the Severino clan of Silay). A story goes that when then president Carlos P. Garcia visited Silay, he was so impressed because he was surrounded by a big number of Silaynon followers.
This is the leading story. Garcia was here because he is a friend of former Senator Jose C. Locsin and the good senator introduced Garcia to former mayor Romulo Geolingo Golez. Garcia asked, “What would you want me to give to Silay?” Locsin jokingly answered, “Make Silay a city.” That was just the story.
Then representatives Jose B. Puey of the first district and Carlos A. Hilado of the second district of Negros Occidental filed House Bill No. 6096, “An Act Creating the City of Silay”. This was passed in the House of Representatives on April 30, 1957; signed by House Speaker Eulogio A. Rodriguez, Sr.
The house bill was passed on the Senate on May 9, 1957; signed by then Senate president Jose P Laurel, Jr. The bill was signed by Garcia on June 12, 1957. It became Republic Act (RA) No. 1621, “An Act Creating the City of Silay”. This act has 57 pages.
On July 2, 1957, Garcia signed Proclamation 422 fixing July 4, 1957, as the date of the organization of the Government of the City of Silay. Section 90 of RA 1621, which is the “Change of Government” under Article 15 has this in the “Transitory Provisions.”
“The city provided for this charter shall be organized on such a date as may be fixed by the President of the Philippines.” Silay officially became a city on July 4, 1957, when RA 1621 was ratified.
The officials of the newly converted city are Mayor Romulo Geolingo Golez, Vice Mayor Ponciano Paviera Siason and the eight councilors: Jose Jover Maravilla, Jose Paviera, Serafin Ledesma Golez, Romeo Severino Ledesma, Eliseo Hilado Benetua, Jose Guarte Jardiolin, Ricardo Golez Ledesma, and Enrique Sazon.