Business tycoon Lucio Tan has become another adopted son of Bacolod City through a resolution passed by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on the request of the Negros Tsinoy organization.

The Negros Tsinoy, a confederation of Filipino-Chinese organizations in Bacolod, is chaired by Alfredo Barcelona. Tan will be the guest of honor during the first Chinese New Year celebration in the city on Feb. 3 and 4.

Businessman James Chua yesterday said their group recommended that Tan be made an adopted son of Bacolod because they look up to him as a pillar in the Chinese community because of his success story.

It is hard work and perseverance that brings about success, not Feng Shui or charms, he said.

Chua said the humble beginnings of the Chinese living in the Philippines started with hard work. He said Tan started as a janitor and bodegero (warehouseman), but later rose to become one of the most successful businessmen in Asia and has gained recognition worldwide.

Chua said they have also asked Mayor Evelio Leonardia to make Tan an honorary mayor of Bacolod during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. On Feb. 4, the Negros Tsinoy will host a luncheon for Tan at the Royal Garden Restaurant where he will be conferred the honor of an adopted son of Bacolod, he said.

Chua said Tan has donated so many schools to Negros and Bacolod and when he arrives next month, he will be turning over three more schools located in Victorias, Murcia and Bacolod. He said Tan will also turn over TV sets through the ATV program of ABS- CBN, as well as, nebulizers and books to Murcia and Bacolod. Meanwhile, Chua said the city-wide celebration of the Chinese New Year was first thought of by Leonardia, who tapped the Filipino-Chinese organizations in Bacolod City, to spearhead the celebration.

He said that because the Chinese New Year is also being celebrated by other cities such as Iloilo and Manila, the Negros Tsinoy organization thought of calling it "Bacolaudiat" which means "ang Bacolod gasinadya (Bacolod is celebrating)".

Chua said the actual Chinese New Year is celebrated on Jan. 29 but in order that many can enjoy the festivities, their group decided to hold it on Feb. 3 and 4, which falls on a Friday and Saturday.

Chua said the celebration will kick off with a grand cultural parade from the Rizal Park to the Bacolod Public Plaza.

The parade will be participated by the Lion dance and kadang dancers of the Chinese Chamber, the dragon dance of the Amity, the flag dancers of the Bacolod Tay Tung High School, Wu Shu and fan dancers of St. John's Institute and representatives of the 31 Chinese organizations in Negros, the MassKara Festival and La Carlota Drum beaters.

He said they want the Chinese New Year to be a celebration of the merging of the Filipino and Chinese cultures.

Chua said the Negros Tsinoy chose the theme "A Loving Family, A Great Nation" because the family is the smallest unit of society.

They believe that if the family and all the people live harmoniously, it will mean that the relation of the city, the province and the country will also become harmonious.

"We want to inculcate unity in the people and the love of country should start from the smallest unit which is the family," he said. "The New Year always has a significance of hope so let us all work toward what is best for Bacolod and set aside politics," he said.

Chua said love of country should be our common denominator because if we diversify in views, it would be really hard to move forward. "I hope and pray that our politicians start working together for what is best for Bacolod," he said.*CGS

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