AS A city, Silay will be 61 years old on June 12, 2018. House Bill No. 6096 was passed by Representative Jose Puey of Sagay and Representative Carlos Hilado of Bacolod in the House of Representatives (Lower House). Mayor Romulo Golez and Senator Jose Locsin helped for the passage of that bill to become Republic Act No. 1621.
This was known as the Charter of Silay City. The charter was approved by President Carlos Garcia on June 12, 1957. Silay was the second town in Negros Occidental to become a city. During the historic signing of the Charter at the Office of the President in Malacanang Palace, the witnesses were Senator Jose Locsin, Representative Carlos Hilado, Representative Jose Puey, Mayor Romulo Golez, and Nicolas Ledesma.
The following were mayors of Silay City: Romulo Golez (1956-1963), Jose Locsin Jr. (1964-1967), Natalio Velez (1968-1986), Carlos Jalandoni (1986-1987), Ramon Jison (1988-1992), Edwin Velez (1992-2001), Carlo Gamban (2001-2007), and Jose Montelibano (2007-2016). The incumbent chief executive is Mayor Mark Andrew Arthur Jison Golez.
This year’s celebration has the theme, “Silay@61! Padayon sa Pag-asenso ang tagsaka Panimalay.” Santacruzan de Silay capped the vesper event wherein the Lin-ay sang Silay candidates took center stage in the afternoon of Sun (May 27) as “zagalas.” They painted the town pink with their frocks.
The fiesta proper will open on Monday, June 4, with a parade to be followed by the opening ceremony and the declaration of the 61st charter celebration by Mayor Mark Golez. The venue is Plaza Olympia Severino. Lin-ay sang Silay candidates will be officially presented. First-day highlights include agricultural fair, exhibits, and bazaar. Lin-ay sang Silay pre-pageant will be in the evening and the sponsors will be given a chance to pick their choice.
Day 2, Tuesday (June 5) features Dancer Si Mother Competition, Magic Show, PWD Invitational Game, and Government Employees’ Night. Day 3, Wednesday, June 6, will highlight young and old with Cosplay Competition and the senior citizens will have a whole afternoon to bond themselves with amusing events and fun. An evening at the plaza will gather all the minstrels in Pop Idol Singing Competition.
Jobs Fair will be on the fourth day at the civic center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) group will have day and evening hurly-burly, animation, and many colorful schemes.
June 8 (Friday) is the day five wherein Congressman Albee Benitez will sponsor a solid day of action, frolic, and prizes. The teachers will have DepEd Night starting 6’oclock at the covered court. This could be a welcome presentation for Dr. Roselyn J. Palcat, the new schools division superintendent.
June 9 (Saturday) is the sixth day in the calendar of events. It’s “Kaon Ta! Street Food Festival” at Balay Negrense. Politicians and non-politicians have been invited to taste what “Banwa sang Dulce” can offer. There will be dog show competition at the plaza, and the most awaited Lin-ay sang Silay Coronation Night will happen at Kansilayan Gym (Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center).
The seventh day (Sunday), June 10 will be busy because of charter day run, bloodletting activity, the second day of Kaon Ta!, ballroom and Latin dances competition, ABS-CBN celebrity night, and “ElectriqueKansilay” will flow in the city main street for the nocturnal participants.
June 11 marks the eighth day with Kansilay Street Dancing Competition, GMA celebrity night, and night two for “ElectriqueKansilay”. D-Day is June 12. It will start with a thanksgiving mass at San Diego Pro-Cathedral to be followed by a ground parade. Flag raising ceremony will be at Olympia Severino Plaza and the Kabataang Silay will have its presentation.
Agape dinner and awarding of outstanding Silaynons and top ten taxpayers will be at the civic center. At the covered court, Cong. Albee is sponsoring a show that accentuates entertainers from Manila’s show world. While the plaza and civic center are full, the streets will be loaded with hot bodies who will celebrate until dawn.
Mabuhay Silay fiesta! Congratulations Silaynons!