Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, who was conferred the honor of being an Adopted Son of the Negros Tsinoy at rites held at the St. John's Institute Activity Center in Bacolod City yesterday said he hopes to help the group in all its undertakings.

Cojuangco said the Negros Tsinoy is the first organization that has recognized that he is Chinese.

The Negros Tsinoy had conferred the honors on Cojuangco for his meritorious contributions to the upliftment of the conditions of the Filipino people and his numerous humanitarian accomplishments.

Cojuangco said he is truly very happy to be part of the BacoLaodiat Festival and for being chosen as an adopted son of the Negros Tsinoy. He disclosed that his wife, Gretchen is also one-fourth Chinese because her great grandmother was a pure Chinese whose family name was Lichauco.

Also present during the dinner in honor of Cojuangco were Transportation Assistant Secretary Ricardo Tan, who shared the same table with the ambassador and his wife, Chinese Consul General in Cebu Cui Luosheng, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon and Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Others present were Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, Conjuangco's son, Mark, Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, former Councilor Roberto Rojas, Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco and members of the Negros Tsinoy.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said the conferment on Cojuangco of the title of an adopted son of Bacolod was an initiative of the Negros Tsinoy in relation to the BacoLaodiat celebration. He said the group wrote him a letter asking him to endorse their resolution to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

However, Leonardia said, Cojuangco felt it was not necessary since he already considers himself a local boy. His wife is from Negros Occidental and such he is a "son-in-law" of the province.

The reports that Conjuangco had "rejected" the offer of the city for him to be an adopted son are off the mark and is a non-issue, he added.

"I respect his (Cojuangco's) decision on the matter, as well as, the efforts of the Negros Tsinoy," he also said.

Leonardia said he wants the BacoLaodiat Festival to be a major activity of Bacolod. He said Councilor Homer Bais had come up with an ordinance making the celebration a permanent fixture in the city.

Leonardia said he believes the projection of the number of Chinese tourists to the country from the mainland or from Taiwan will may already get a hundred million in a matter of 10 years.

"They will look for a place where they can enjoy themselves as tourists, and could still keep up with their tradition of celebrating the New Year," he said, adding that Bacolod will have that extra edge over the other places in the country.

And if you are talking of a hundred million Chinese tourists, coming to the Philippines, even if only hundreds will come to the city, that will already be a big help to our economy, Leonardia said.

"Even if other foreign tourists don't come, the fact that we have the Chinese community united and the local people are entertained and become culturally richer, I think it is worth all the resources we are pouring into the activity" he said.*CGS

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