ONLY few Silaynons have known that Silay Public Plaza is Plaza Olympia Severino. Olympia is the lady who made the Philippine flag that was raised at Silay plaza for the first time on a memorable day…Saturday; November 5, 1898. It was the day for the bloodless revolution in Silay. It was our Freedom Day!
Every town and city in Negros Occidental has a public plaza. I only know of one city that its plaza (the beautiful plaza) is now occupied by a gymnasium. The public plazas left behind to us by the Spaniards speak also of the architectural design of the “pueblos” established by our ancestors with the “maestros de obra” being guided by our Spanish colonizers.
Some towns and cities have retained the original structure of their city. Some plazas have undergone minor restructuring. Other plazas have been totally demolished and replaced with a new face that does not show very well its connection to history and culture. One classic victim is the public plaza of Silay.
As a victim of history, the Silay public plaza (original) with an Italian architectural design that blends with San Diego Church that was designed by Lucio Bernasconi (Italian architect) in 1920 was ordered to be demolished at the height of Marcos’ Martial Law Era. While it was pounded for destruction, Silaynons were in tears while their broken hearts were lamenting.
The important characters during the Marcos’ Martial Law Era would want to change the course of history, a history that would be rewritten during their time. Silay public plaza was a victim of that misdirection. The new generation does not have romantic knowledge of the bygone era when Silay was “Paris of Negros,” the cultural and political hub of Negros. Silay was once a commercial center, a trade haven, and the home of the “zarzuela.”
Silay public plaza now looks like a park. The recent mayors took their share in coming up with good ideas to enhance the present plaza. In the recent meeting of department heads under Mayor Mark Golez, there was a suggestion from Executive Assistant for Tourism Levi Fernandez that the glory of Plaza Olympia be revived to further promote tourism in Silay.
The plan states that bright lights will be installed in the plaza to encourage families to have their bonding time there. The dancing fountain with colorful lights will be resurrected. More plants will color the plaza. More activities will be held at the covered court…cultural shows, ball games, and health road shows.
This could be a start of good dream for Silay that is in line also with the tourism advocacy of the Provincial Tourism Office that public plazas in Negros Occidental should be tourist-friendly. If Silay was a trend setter in the past, there is no reason why it cannot do it now. What the Silaynon leaders need is a political will to come up with a well of ideas. So, start digging now.
We expect that Engr. Rene Roy Pahilanga will come up with his program of works to repair and repaint the plaza perimeter fence. The dancing fountain needs a massive work and a team up with City Electrical Engineer Jeric Pancho to produce dancing water that matches the gyrating sound to motivate everybody to dance.
Noel Villacorta, the guy behind plaza maintenance, is expected to have his initiative to plant more flowers and ornamental plants. He can have partnership with other friends, including Leo Canson, for the proper landscaping. We hope that this new bright idea or whatever you call it will give results for the Silaynons. We also encourage our civil security officers assigned at the plaza to do their share of protecting (not just watching) government property.
Thank you for the new enthusiasm. We always hope for the best. Plaza Olympia will soon be a plaza of lights. Good luck!