RECOGNIZING their contributions to the health and welfare of every Negrense, the response teams of 31 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental and 10 frontline agencies will be honored Friday, November 5, 2021, during the commemoration of Cinco de Noviembre.
This year's celebration of Cinco de Noviembre, anchored on the theme "Pasidungog sa mga Bag-o nga Baganihan," will have two parts—the flag-raising ceremony at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park at 8 a.m. and Pasidungog at 6 p.m. at the Provincial Capitol’s Social Hall.
Receiving their recognitions as outstanding Negrense are the staff members of the Hospital Operations Department, Provincial Health Office, Disaster Management Program Division, Information Communication Technology Division and Mambukal Resort.
Other awardees are the personnel from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Red Cross Negros Occidental-Bacolod City Chapter.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II said they consider all of the province's frontliners in the fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as heroes.
Diaz said there are also several individual awardees, but Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has decided to specifically focus on the teams who have actively participated in fighting the pandemic.
"Individuals have been starring but you know without team effort it is very difficult to fight Covid. It's really a team effort for the awardees," Diaz said.
November 5, 1898 is the date when Negrenses are proud to exclaim that they are inhabitants of this small sock-shaped island full of natural resources.
This is also the day 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 conquistadores.
On this date, revolutionaries, led by General Juan Araneta from Bago and General Anecito Lacson from Talisay marched towards Bacolod City carrying fake arms consisting of rifles carved out of nipa stalks and canons made from bamboo mats painted with black color.
The courageous strategy deceived the Spaniards led by General Isidro De Castro looking from afar using a telescope atop the San Sebastian Cathedral belfry causing them to surrender upon seeing the large formation of soldiers, heavily armed with rifles and cannons.