‘City of Smiles’
designation adopted

An ordinance officially adopting the long-held title of City of Bacolod as “The City of Smiles” and for other purposes, was approved on first reading by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Friday.

The ordinance was authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito and co-authored by councilors Roberto Rojas, Em Ang, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Wilson Gamboa Jr., and Carlos Jose Lopez.

The ordinance said that for several years, the City of Bacolod has been branded as “The City of Smiles”, “MassKara Festival Capital of the Philippines”, “Chicken Inasal Capital of the Philippines” and “Gateway to the Province of Negros Occidental”.

Despite the worldwide popularity of the brands or nicknames given to the City of Bacolod, no official declarations were made as per review in the archives of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, it said.

The ordinance said the nickname “The City of Smiles” was inspired by the celebration of the MassKara Festival every October, which was conceptualized to lift the spirit of the people from the problems and tragedies that affected the city, such as the Don Juan Tragedy and the decline of the sugar industry in the 80s.

The brand “City of Smiles” also represents the attitude of the Bacolodnons, being resilient and strong despite the trials that they encounter, it said.

To distinguish the City of Bacolod from the rest of the world, it is high time to make an official declaration of its brands, the ordinance added.

Meanwhile, the SP also passed a resolution authored by Ang and Rojas supporting the observance and celebration of October 6, 2014 a holiday for Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice for Muslims.

The SP also approved on second reading an ordinance making the Diwali Festival an annual tourism event in the City of Bacolod.

The ordinance was authored by councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Batapa-Sigue and Gamboa.*CGS

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Banwahanon awards
nominations sought

Nominations for the 2014 Search for the Ang Banwahanon Awards, are now being accepted, Bacolod Councilor Ana Marie Palermo announced yesterday in a press release from City Hall.

Palermo, who is chairman of the Ang Banwahanon Awards Committee, said they are continuing the search to recognize private individuals who have rendered their services to the continuing development of Bacolod, the press release it said.

The members of the Awards Committee are former city Councilor Homer Bais, Leonito Lopue, Johanna Bayoneta, Libertad Nolido and Prima Pefianco, the press release said.

The Banwahanon Awards are open to those with “considerable impact for services rendered to the residents of the city or the community” and have “immensely contributed to the economic, cultural, social, moral educational development of the city”, it also said.

Palermo said the achievements of the nominee should serve as an inspiration and a model worthy of emulation by the city’s residents and the country, the press release said.

Nominees must be Filipino citizens of good moral character and residents of Bacolod City for at least 10 years; he or she must come from the private sector and is not an awardee of previous “Ang Banwahanon Awards” and should be willing to be of service to the community or the city when called upon, the press release said.

If the nominator is an organization, a Board Resolution is required that states that the group is endorsing the nomination, it also said.

Nomination forms are available at the office of Palermo. Deadline for submission is on October 8, the press release said.

Winners will be announced on October 19 during the Charter Day anniversary of the city, the press release it added.*

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