CONGRATULATIONS Silaynons! In 1951, Dr. Jose C. Locsin won a seat in the Senate and in 1955 Romulo Golez became mayor of Silay. In the same year, Jose Puey of Sagay and Carlos Hilado of Bacolod also won seats in the House of Representatives.
The two congressmen with the help of Mayor Golez and Senator Locsin worked for the passage of House Bill no. 6096 which became Republic Act 1621 otherwise known as the Charter of Silay City. The date of the Charter’s approval was June 12, 1957. Silay was the second town in Negros Occidental to become a city.
From June 6 up to June 12 is “Kaadlawan sang Silay” wherein Silaynons under the leadership of Mayor Jose L. Montelibano and Vice Mayor Mark J. Golez celebrate the Charter Anniversary and “Hugyaw Kansilay Festival” (to honor Silay’s legendary “Lin-ay Kansilay”). The seven-day celebration is a replica of traditional Filipino fiesta anchored on thanksgiving to God, food showcase, agricultural products, sports competition, cultural extravaganza, beauty and talent pageant, amusement activities for children (and adult as well), civic-military parade, float competition and non-stop arrival of local and foreign guests. (Fiesta schedule of activities could be found within the Silay plaza strategic places.)
Fiesta celebration evolves with time and cultural change. Teenagers now go for long boarding, tattoo (as an art), rock music, skateboarding, cosplay (not found in the time of President Quezon), and BMX competition. As usual, Silaynon bonding is staged through Pride Walk (no “afueras” allowed).
Mayor Oti will be honored by the PNP under the command of Supt. Jacob Crisostomo. “HatawSayaw” will always inspire the big-and-the-not-so-big Silaynons to trim down through zumba and any move that would cause them to shake, rattle and roll.
The agriculture product mini-complex is a presentation that confirms that Silay is frontlines in the promotion of “Organic Negros,” a battle cry of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to win the food revolution for healthy Negrosanons. “Sabor Silay” includes the preparation of the best of Silay culinary delights (food, delicacies and concoctions). There are those who join the competition and participate in the food sale. Mothers, drivers, employees, and vendors always find time to display their hidden unexplored talents in singing, dancing, and acting.
Sports include basketball, volleyball, running event, and taekwondo. DepEd Family brings to the edge Drum and Lyre Corps Competition and its most awaited DepEd Night wherein teachers don’t just dance and sing but they twinkle. For the educators, it is their night of talent, fashion and popularity. The parents, pupils and the students become part of the captive audience.
Varied acoustic bands in Silay will show flight of sound, and television companies (those based in Negros) will pour in their local talents and will fly in their movie and “teleserye” actors and actresses. (We hope they are good, at least.) As part of government advocacy, we provide Silaynons (and non-Silaynons) Jobs Fair and we have invited PhilHealth to explain its “Alaga ka Program.” This will clarify the difference between mythology and reality in the PhilHealth program.
The advocates of dance sports will have a moment to do their spread during the competition at the Civic Center. The 385 scholars of Silay City Government will keep us guessing on how they are going to bring the stage down (very scholarly) with Kabataang Silay Rondalla, Hugyaw Silay Dance Troupe, and to bring the elite touch in music, the “Violinistas de Silay” will tone down the humidity. NCTV (our local cable TV provider) is bringing celebrities also to spark the plaza event on June 11, 8 p.m.
R
ep. Albee Benitez is bringing comedians and a Manila-based band in the evening of June 10 at the plaza. (I was just told). This will be an alternative good show while we have our Lin-ay sang Silay Pageant at the Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center.
June 12 is the D-Day. We start the morning with a 7 a.m. mass to be followed by a symbolic flag-raising at Plaza Olympia Severino. The Grand Parade dominates the major streets of Silay at 8:30 a.m. Every year, the participants increase. This is the best event to show the best in tourism, culture, trade, commerce and industry. “Hugyaw Kansilay Street Dance” starts at 1:30 p.m. Come early. Just come early so that you will not miss the thrill. (I hope no surprises will shock us.)
Firework is at 7 p.m. This sky show is good for the entire family. Kapamilya (June 6) opens the festival and Kapuso ends it (June 12). Street party (from Rizal-Burgos Sts. up to Rizal-ZuluetaSts.) will entice party mutants to flock to the sound of music, flicker of lights, smell of beer, and aroma of grilled chicken and pork.
Silay Fiesta is something for you to come to and enjoy, something for you to see and buy, something for you to meet old friends and make new relationships. Happy fiesta Silay!