Birthday at the beach

It was really a very sad day for Bacoleños and Negrenses when Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. announced that Ayala Land Inc. was withdrawing its P6 billion development plan for the 7.7-hectare provincial government property in Bacolod City.

I have visited the cities of Cebu and Davao, and wow, what beautiful sights the Ayala projects were. The DAILY STAR reported that ALI was planning “to develop the Capitol property into an integrated mixed-used civic and commercial district that will combine the center of government with commercial and residential use, making it the new growth center of Metro Bacolod and Negros Occidental”.

I am very glad there are people doing their best to help change the decision of ALI.

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For the past three years, I have never missed the birthday celebration of architect Prospero Ramos Leonardia, the third from the youngest of the nine children of the late Jose Sr. and Ester Leonardia. Popularly known as Pros or “Enggol,” he is married to the former Nena Delfin and they have two lovely daughters: Gretchen, who is married to Pio Baja Dumatol, with two children; and Peachy, married to Gino Tadiar, also with two kids. Peachy is the vice president for communication of CitiBank, New York.

It was the celebrator, who welcomed us when we arrived at the Punta Taytay beach resort. Ivy Visitacion led the prayer, followed by the singing of “Happy, Happy Birthday” and the blowing of the birthday candles.

Terribly missed were his wife Nena, who left recently to do “apostolic” work in New York, and Mayor Bing, who was in Iloilo, but the rest of Pro’s loved ones and relatives were in attendance.

Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson, Sangguniang Panlungsod councilors, city officials and Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, led the many well-wishers and friends who graced the happy occasion.

Even the erratic weather favored the celebration.

To Pros, God bless and more celebrations to come! Happy Birthday!*

Remember: Tell God all your Ps: Problems, Pressures and Plans and He will give you his ABCs! A-nswered prayers, B-est favors and C-ourage to go on.*