ILOILO CITY – The province of Capiz commemorated the 77th death anniversary of President Manuel A. Roxas on Tuesday, April 15.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the provincial capital Roxas City, named after the country’s first president after gaining independence from colonial United States.

FORMER Sen. Mar Roxas, his wife Korina, and children attend the 77th death anniversary of President Manuel Roxas on Tuesday, April 15, in Roxas City. (Korina Sanchez Facebook page)
Prior to becoming president, Roxas was governor, congressman, and councilor of the province.
Local officials, including Gov. Fredenil “Oto” Castro, first district Rep. Emmanuel “Tawi” Billones Sr., Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, and municipal mayors attended the ceremony.
The President’s grandson, former senator and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, was present.
Accompanying Mar were his wife Korina and their twin children Pepe and Pilar and Paolo Z. Roxas, Mar’s son from a previous relationship and a congressional candidate for the first district of Capiz.
Then President Gloria M. Arroyo declared April 15 as President Manuel A. Roxas Memorial Day when she signed Republic Act No. 9217 in 2003.
April 15 was supposed to be a non-working holiday in the province but the city government announced work as a 2022 memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stipulated that LGUs cannot declare local holidays and can only move it to the nearest Friday.
The nearest Friday or April 18 is already a holiday as it is Good Friday.