THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental will honor five outstanding Negrenses, including an organization, Monday, November 5 during the celebration of the 120th Negros Day.
The awardees are Cherrie De Erit Atilano for sustainable agri-tourism; Jeannette Patindol for academe and literature; Roberto Montelibano for business and entrepreneurship; Olivia Yanson for humanitarian works; and the Negros Historical Council Inc. for history and culture.
The awarding, which will be led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, will be held at 6 p.m. in the Provincial Capitol Social Hall.
Marilyn Marañon, first lady of the province, will assist the giving of the awards.
During the flag ceremony at 8 a.m., the governor, along with other provincial government officials, will lead the awarding and presentation of the 2018 Negrense centenarians.
The theme of the 120th Negros Day Celebration is “Pasidungog sa mga bag-o nga baganihan sang probinsiya.”
November 5, 1898, “Cinco de Noviembre,” is the date when thousands of Negrenses manifested their bravery and courage in the most coordinated way headed by various local leaders to protect the land they well-loved in a bloodless revolt against the Spanish conquerors.
It was in this day 120 years ago when the marching revolutionists led by General Juan Araneta from Bago City and General Aniceto Lacson from Silay City were actually carrying fake arms consisting of rifles carved out of Nipa stalks and cannons of bamboo mats painted black.
The courageous strategy deceived the Spaniards led by Col. Isidro Castro looking afar using a hazy telescope from atop the San Sebastian Cathedral belfry. They surrendered upon seeing large formations of soldiers, heavily armed with rifles and cannons.
This event is being commemorated in Negros Occidental as the day the Negrenses bluffed the Spaniards to attain freedom.
November 5 has been declared a special non-working holiday in the province through Republic Act No. 6709 signed by the late President Corazon Aquino on February 10, 1989.
Meanwhile, in Bago City, the local government will commemorate the 120th Al Cinco de Noviembre with its Sigabong sang mga Kanyon and Fancy Drill competitions today.
The celebration will start with a thanksgiving mass held at the St. John the Baptist Church.
It will be followed by a short program and floral offering at the monument of Gen. Juan Araneta.
Joining the floral offering are the city officials led by Mayor Nicholas Yulo, Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, different non-government organizations students and the heirs of Tan Juan.
It will be followed by a civic military parade participated by all sectors of the city.
Also joining the parade are the Sigabong sang mga Kanyon competitors coming from the 24 barangays of Bago.
The nine participating units of the 10th Bago City Fancy Drill competition will also showcase their performance during the civil military parade with their street fancy drill.
The competitors for Sigabong sang mga Kanyon will be judged according to their re-enactment of the historic bluff and the loudest “sigabong” of their cannon.
Yulo is inviting everyone to come to Bago today to reminisce history as the hometown of General Araneta and enjoy the revelry prepared by the city government to commemorate the historic occasion. (TDE)