By Tara Yap ILOILO CITY—A bronze statue of Iloilo’s revolutionary hero General Martin Delgado is a fixture at Iloilo Business Park, the 72-hectare township of property developer Megaworld Corp. in this city. (TARA YAP/ MANILA BULLETIN) “We are very happy to see such a masterpiece at Iloilo Business Park. This is truly a fitting reminder of the continued emergence of Iloilo as a progressive city that puts the arts, history and culture at its very core,” said Kevin L. Tan, Megaworld executive vice president, in a statement. While it has been seen by the public since September 2017, the memorial was only officially inaugurated last Saturday. The statue is within the Casa de Emperador complex, which is also where Megaworld opened its Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA). The 8.8-meter statue is the work of award-winning Spanish artist Ginés Serrán-Pagán. “Out of the works I’ve done in my life, perhaps it is my work on General Martin Delgado that really touched me. He was an amazing man who sacrificed his life for the people of Iloilo,” Serrán-Pagán said. Delgado was one of the leaders of the Visayan phase of the 1898 revolution against colonial Spain and also in the resistance movement against American colonialism. He eventually became the first Filipino governor of Iloilo province. The bronze sculpture depicts Delgado riding a horse with his left hand holding a sword. Just above the shoulder is a dove, which symbolizes Delgado’s fight for freedom. Prior to working on the sculpture, Serrán-Pagán researched extensively on Delgado’s life. He talked to historian Demy Sonza and Delgado’s family. Serrán-Pagán said he even travelled to Palawan, where Delgado died in November 1918. Delgado was sent to the leper colony in the island of Culion because authorities at that time suspected he had leprosy. But both Delgado’s family and Sonza believed the hero did not have the disease, Also present at the statue’s ceremonial inauguration were Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Helen Catalbas, Megaworld Senior Assistant Vice President Harold Geronimo, Megaworld Vice President for Sales and Marketing in Iloilo Jennifer Palmares-Fong, Delgado’s descendants, and the family of Serrán-Pagán. Meanwhile, Iloilo Business Park is hosting some of the side activities for the 2019 Dinagyang Festival with its highlight on January 26-27. Foremost is the 2nd Dinagyang Float and Lights Parade, wherein colorful floats from various groups and business will join in a night parade that ends at Iloilo Business Park. There’s also a music festival with bands such as Kamikazee, Quezo, Greyhoundz, Up Dharma Down, and The Apartels with Ely Buendia. There’s also a heritage dinner at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo that will feature Ilonggo Chef Rafael “Tibong” Jardeleza Jr. Iloilo Business Park will also host the grand coronation night of this year’s Miss Dinagyang pageant.