THE City Government of Bacolod led the awarding of the outstanding Bacolodnons and government employees, corporate, and individual taxpayers during the 75th commemoration of the signing of the Charter of the City of Bacolod on Thursday.
Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia and Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III led the event at the grand lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center.
Leonardia, along with some re-elected and elected officials of the city, stood firm to honor the historic day for Bacolod despite glaring opposition from some sectors in the community over the change of date from a duly-declared Charter Day celebration every October 19 to June 18 where the law was signed by former Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon in 1938.
They honored the man who initiated the city-hood of Bacolod, former 2nd District of Negros Occidental assemblyman Pedro C. Hernaez, by installing a memorial bust donated by the Hernaez family at the grand lobby of Government Center as graced by the former leader's great granddaughters.
Hernaez sponsored the bill or Commonwealth Act 326 or the Charter Day of Bacolod that was approved by the First Philippine National Assembly.
The installation was presided by Pimentel and Leonardia.
They also installed the historical panels at the Government Center lobby -- "A people's Dream Come True" wherein the new seat of power was realized thru the generosity of the Fernando Gonzaga family who donated a five-hectare lot where the edifice stands.
These panels tell the story on the making of the Government Center.
The portraits of 25 mayors of Bacolod City were also installed where the living and still dynamic former mayors Joy S. Valdez, Rolando Villamor, Oscar Verdeflor, and some family members of the past leaders also graced the occasion.
Meanwhile, the persons and companies who got the award yesterday were as follows:
Mayor's Special Citation: The awardees were the late Msgr. John Su, Mr. Jerry Lesaca Sy, and Bacolod City Cultural Foundation.
The five individuals top realty taxpayers were Ricardo Yanson, Jerry Ong, Jacinto Palma, Belina Ong, and Tomas de Leon, Jr.
For corporations, the awardees include SM Mega Holdings, Bacolod Commercial & Industrial Park, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Dynasty Management Corp., and San Miguel Brewery, Inc.
The top business taxpayers (individual category) were Jose Maria Cajili, Ronald Teh, Ramon Kilayko, Manuel Po, and Alvin Yu.
For top corporate business taxpayers, the awardees include La Filipina Uygongco Corporation, Marketing One Unlimited, San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco, Co. Inc., and Coca Cola Bottlers' Philippines.
Also lauded as the most outstanding city government executive is Mrs. Anabelle Badajos, city treasurer.