BACOLOD CITY - As the city of Bago in Negros Occidental celebrates its 57th charter anniversary, the local government underscores the importance of unity in a bid to rise to the many challenges, including the pandemic, and move forward.
City officials led by Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, along with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, and fourth district Board Member Andrew Martin Torres, led the ceremonial opening of the Agro-Industrial, Cultural and Educational Trade Fair at Bantayan Park on Tuesday, Feb. 14, to kick off the celebration with a theme ‘Bago@57: Celebrating Sustainable Leaps Toward Recovery and Progress.’
The city is celebrating the gains that the Bagonhons were able to realize as they continue to work together for a stronger and progressive city.
Yulo, in a media interview, said that this year, they have concentrated on the micro-enterprises, particularly food businesses that were greatly affected by the pandemic in the past two years.
Yulo said that micro-enterprises make up about 90 percent of the city’s economy, thus there is a need to help these sectors to recover.
In fact, he said the city has organized a farmers’ weekend market every Saturday to provide a venue for these businesses, particularly those situated at the Bantayan Park, so that residents and visitors would be able to check and buy their products.
In order to boost their products, Yulo said the city has equipped them with more knowledge on product presentation such as the access to branding and packaging of their products, as well as marketing, through various seminars.
These were done through the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Tourism (DoT), he added.
After the opening ceremony, Diwata sang Bago pageant night will be held at Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center (MYTMCCC) in the evening.
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the city hosted the whole-day Farmers and Fisherfolk Day at the Bantayan Park, Department of Education (DepEd) Promenade 2023. It was dubbed ‘Harvest of Excellence.’
The Employees Day Awarding and Recognition Ceremony will be held at MYTMCCC on Feb. 16. Also, there’s a Party at the Park at the Bantayan Park every 7 p.m. from Feb. 14 to 18.
On Feb. 19, a thanksgiving mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Parish Church in the morning to be followed by the 57th Charter Day Civic Military Parade at the city streets.
In the afternoon, Bagonhons and guests will witness the Babaylan Street Dance at the city streets, Babaylan Stage Competition, Sugilanon sang mga Barangay, Clean and Green Awarding, Agro Trade Fair Awarding and Best Product Search Awarding Ceremony all at MYTMCCC.
They will also be treated to a charter anniversary concert at the Sports Center at 9 p.m. featuring Ben&Ben and Chocolate Factory. Admission is free.
This is the first time that the city held a physical charter anniversary celebration in two years or since a pandemic was declared in early 2020.