The show must go on!

This was the reaction of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday when asked about a text message circulating that “Vice President Jejomar Binay has cancelled his trip to Bacolod to attend a fake charter day.”

Whatever may happen they will go ahead with the celebration, he said.

They have not yet received confirmation from the Office of the Vice President if there are changes in his planned trip to Bacolod being the invited guest of honor and speaker to the city’s 74th Charter Anniversary which commemorates the signing into law of Commonwealth Act 326, that creates the City of Bacolod.

Leonardia, however, said the advance party of Binay was already in Bacolod yesterday.” Aside from Binay, his son and some members of the family are coming so we will wait and see," he said.

Makati Mayor Jejmoar “Junun” Binay Jr. will be here anyway because he is the son and representative of the Vice President and that he is coming to sign an agreement with Bacolod for the sisterhood pact, he added.

Leonardia said they would like to verify reports that the Vice President will be sent to represent the country at the burial of King of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Nayef Bin Abdul-Aziz.

Binay and his son are expected to arrive in Bacolod City today as Bacolod marks its charter anniversary.

The program for the 74th Charter Anniversary at the lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center will be moved from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. today in view of the flight arrival of its guests.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the activities today will start with a 7:30 a.m. mass at the government center and will be followed by the awarding of outstanding Bacolod tax payers and government employees and giving of mayor’s special citation.

A marching parade participated in by city officials, policemen, firemen, soldiers, guests and school marching bands will be held in the afternoon, he said.

Following the parade is the first city-wide barangay festival showdown competition from the Negros Occidntal High School to the plaza at 4:30 p.m., while the ABS-CBN Kapamilya Night will be held at 7 p.m. at the government center.

The weeklong activity will be capped by a pyrotechnics competition at 11 p.m. also at the government center.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said they will still request Malacanang next year to declare June 18 as a special non-working public holiday in Bacolod City since they are not giving up, although they respect the decision of Malacañang.

“It is due to our belief, perception and conviction that we are pushing for June 18 as the actual date that Bacolod City was born. And we are convinced that the records of the National Historical Commission and archives of Congress are clear that the law was signed on June 18,” he said.

Leonardia said “So we have never lied, neither had we attempted to lie, (as claimed by Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. in his press statement).

The problem with Golez is that he is lie-oriented probably because that was what he used to do when he was spokesman of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he said.

Leonardia said those who went against or worked to prevent the celebration of the charter anniversary have deprived Bacolodnons of a day to enjoy the commemoration of the signing into law of the Charter of Bacolod.

Councilor Caesar Distrito said that it appear that Golez is a "kill joy" and this was the same reactions he read on line.

Leonardia said it is an established fact that Commonwealth Act No. 326 was signed into law and specified that it will take effect immediately after signing," he said. June 18, 1938 was the day when President Manuel Quezon signed it.

He said Bacolod will continue to celebrate its charter anniversary today.

Meanwhile, former Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said, “Let us give both June 18 and October 19, 2012 the honor they deserve since both dates are genuine and important for Bacolodnons, and request for the passage of a law declaring two important holidays for the people of Bacolod,” she said in a press release.*CGS

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