Maasin City Celebrates Its 10th Year Charter Day Anniversary

Aug.18,2010
Maasin City Celebrates Its 10th Year Charter Day Anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte province, has celebrated its 10th year Charter Day anniversary recently coupled with various Sports and other civil activities prior to the culmination day of the festivity with its theme “A decade of service, optism and victory”.
The activities involved were volleyball,billiards,night dances, special friends night, employees night, lawn and table tennis,badminton,cycling,dart,clergy concert,SK night,potpot race, cooperative night,agro-fair,Liga Ng Mga Barangay Night,SK night,qeen competition and awarding, concert at the park.
Former City Mayor Damian Mercado, now the incumbent Governor said in his speech that his slogan “Aksyon,Solusyon,Inisyatibo”(Action,Solution,Initiative) had worked effectively with the cooperation of the city officials to change the “face” of once-a-municipality of Maasin thru various infrastructure projects in the proper city and in different barangays under its jurisdiction.
Mercado said that he is thankful that former Vice-Mayor, now Mayor Maloney Samaco has continued his plan of improving the place, not only in business aspect but also in other programs beneficial to the city dwellers.
Tacloban Mayor Alfred S.Romualdez, the guest speaker, disclosed in his inspirational talk that when he was a Congressman he was one of those who co-authored for the cityhood of Maasin, which was principally authored by former Congressman Anecito Saludo,Jr.
Romualdez revealed that the people of Maasin might have not known that he and his wife are always visiting Maasin and the province to view the sceneries along its highways where the find peace and order, most particularly if they have visitors from Bacolod or Iloilo.
He claimed that while other big and beautiful cities were allegedly dying due to alleged fighting of some of its people, the people of Maasin are generally living in peace and order.
Nevertheless, with elected officials in authority have united, he said, there’s also the necessity of the people to unite themselves, and by this measure there’s no reason why Maasin cannot prosper with its officials having the passion to serve.
For her part, Romualdez’s wife Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez ,a former actress,expressed her appreciation for the invitation. She also said that what divide the people of Leyte Island is the mountain ranges-with those facing Bohol and Cebu speak the Cebuano language and those facing Samar speak the Waray-Waray.Nonetheless, she implied that the two different languages of the inhabitants did not create a discordant barrier as long as mutual and diplomatic relationship is concern. She said she even talked to the incumbent Governor to be partners in tourism promotion of Leyte’s 2 provinces.
Governor Mercado with the assistance of Mayor Samaco has awarded plaques of appreciation to the honored guests Alfred and Cristina.
During the culmination day of the celebration, the City Government has given awards to the Most Outstanding Maasinhons from different endeavors to five individuals and one institution. 1)Marcelino Hanopol,Jr.-Assistsant Commissioner and COA Regional Director-Government Service;2)Dr.Clemencia Tan Montecillo-Humanitarian Service: providing services to migrate Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates by putting up housing selttlement;3)Reynaldo C. Abris-Culture and Arts;4)Ryan David M. Sy-Sports Escellence;5)Andrew Sanchez-Music; 6)DYDM-AM-Public Affairs and Community Service.
Singers/Performers who provided entertainment to the thick crowd during intermissions were singer/songwriter Andrew Sanchez, Natasha Mae Resos, Carl Emmanuel K.Beja, Joane Cristey Maui T.Cepada, Quina Josel T.Dolauta, Reine S. Roa, Michael Mori, Irish S. Saavedra, Shana Kalyla Lutero, Shaina May Rodas and Collen Tanquizon.
Earlier, there was a parade around the main streets of the city participated in by city and barangay officials, city hall employees,barangay health workers, some govt. offices in the city, teachers and students of Systems Technology Institute( STI),Saint Joseph College,Maasin City College, College of Maasin,among others.(Quirico M., Gorpido,Jr.)