Business tycoon and Bacolod's adopted son Lucio Tan said he hopes to explore areas of investment in Bacolod City to show his gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him during his visit to the city Saturday.

Tan was conferred the title of an adopted son and honorary mayor of Bacolod City at simple rites at the Bacolod City Hall Saturday during the Bacolaodiat festival.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia extolled Tan as a fine example of a hard-working Chinese-Filipino whose amazing life story never fails to inspire his countrymen, especially the youth. By naming Tan as honorary mayor, the city expressed appreciation for the taipan's efforts to create jobs, to provide livelihood, including his deep commitment to numerous educational and social causes.

During his acceptance speech at a testimonial luncheon in his honor at the Garden Royale, Tan said he brought along his key executives and several friends from the business community to take a close look at what Bacolod has to offer so they could explore potential areas of investment.

"This is the least I can do to repay your kindness and generosity," he told local officials and the Negros Tsinoy.

Tan said he is truly humbled by the honors given him and that he thanks Leonardia, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod and all "our kababayans" for having him as an adopted son.

He said he has learned that thrift, hard work, family loyalty and, most of all respect for scholarship and learning, are the key ingredients for success.

But Tan said that, aside from these virtues, it is equally important to be a good corporate citizen. Through the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, named after his late father, the Lucio Tan Group of Companies share the fruits of its labor with others, he said.

"I did not have a privileged life as a young man," Tan said. "What I am now and what I have today, are products of hard work and the continuing quest for learning," he said.

As president of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Tan made generous donations of school buildings, educational television packages, and nebulizers units in cooperation with the ABS-CBN Foundation and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Leonardia, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, Victorias Mayor Severo Palanca, Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Transportation Secretary Ricardo Tan, Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson were on hand at the symbolic turn-over ceremonies at the Garden Royale.

Lucio Tan was accompanied by his wife Carmen and daughters Rowena, Jocelyn and Carlu. Also with him were some of his classmates at the Chiang Kai Shiek High School and the Far Eastern University.

Also present at the affair were Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, Iloilo Mayor Jerry Trenas, the members of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, former Bacolod Mayor Amado Parreño Jr., representatives of the different Filipino-Chinese communities, and other guests.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said this is the second time the city has bestowed the honor of being an adopted son to an outstanding Filipino. He said Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao was also conferred the title of an adopted son in October 2005. Tan and Pacquiao are a knockout tandem, he said, that he hopes to become role models for the youth.

Leonardia said the story of Tan can be compared to the MassKara Festival of Bacolod which was conceptualized at a time when the city was in crisis. He said "We will be on the track that would lead us to a better life if we only follow Tan."

"I join our Chinese brothers in rejoicing over the undisputedly successful Bacolaodiat festival," Leonardia said, adding that he is happy over the way the people responded to his call for unity.*CGS

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