Bacolod celebrates 123rd Philippine Independence Day

THE City Government of Bacolod will mark the 123rd Philippine Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021, with its guest of honor and speaker Dr. Hector Gayares Jr. at the Bacolod public plaza.

The commemoration rites will be attended by city officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Congressman Greg Gasataya, department heads, and other government agencies. It will start with a "simple yet fitting" flag-raising ceremony at 6:30 a.m.

This year's theme is “Kalayaan 2021: Diwa sa Pagkakaisa at Paghilom ng Bayan.”

Gayares is a volunteer doctor who helped the City manage the Covid-19 pandemic since it started in 2020. He also functioned as deputy medical of the Emergency Operations Center of the City and a private sector representative at the Covid-19 Vaccination Council.

Gayares is a surgery clinician, professor, and hospital administrator. He was the president and medical director of the Adventist Medical Center Bacolod from 2011 to 2018 and the chief executive officer of the Adventist International Health System Philippines from July 2018 to April 2021.

He now sits as the chief executive officer of the Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital in Banepa, Nepal since May 2021.

“More than unity and healing, we call for freedom from what ails the world today,” Leonardia said.

Officials and participants from various sectors who will attend the event are required to observe minimum health safety protocols.

The program will officially conclude with a wreath-laying at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier to be led by the guest of honor together with Leonardia, Gasataya, Familiaran, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and war veteran representatives.