The Balik Bacolod campaign in the US got another boost when the Mayor of Milpitas City in California, expressed his support to the program at a recent meeting with Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Milpitas City Mayor Jose Estevez, who has roots in Pangasinan, said the MassKara Festival of Bacolod is one of the better known Philippine festivals and should be promoted among Balikbayans and foreign tourists, in line with the national government thrust on the theme "It's more fun in the Philippines".

Estevez is one of the few mayors in California whose descendants are Filipinos. Milpitas is among the communities in the Bay area where the presence of Filipinos is dominant.

He gave the "Key to the City of Milpitas" to Leonardia as a gesture of goodwill and Estevez assured him that Filipinos, especially Bacoleños, are always welcome to his city. Leonardia also extended an "open invitation" to Estevez to visit Bacolod City.

Earlier, Leonardia also met with Philippine Consulate officials led by Consul General Marciano Paynor, Jr. Consul Jaime Ramon Ascalon, Trade Commisioner Michael Alfred Ignacio and Director for Northwestern USA. Rene de los Santos of Western Canada, who also expressed interest in the MassKara Festival and the potentials for investments of Bacolod City.

Leonardia said that, as he joins Team Pacquiao regularly in the US, he is also using this trip to take advantage of the Balikbayan market which is just ready to be tapped.

He also emphasized that, as in all his trips abroad since he was a councilor, vice mayor and now that he is on his fourth term as mayor, he has never spent a single centavo of Bacolod City government funds for his travels outside of the country.*

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