Inaugural rites

Thousands of Bacoleños flocked to the plaza to witness the oath-taking of city officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Monday, in rites administered by Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and two Bacolod judges.

Ring icon Manny Pacquiao, the adopted son of Bacolod, could not make it to the occasion but was represented by his long-time friend and trainer, Boboy Fernandez who, surprisingly, spoke fluent Hiligaynon as his roots are in the northern part of Negros Occidental, having been born in Manapla.

Mayor Bing read a text message from Manny who said he had to accompany his two kids and his wife, Jinky, to a meeting at the exclusive Brent school where they have been enrolled. Well, the show must go on, as it went with Revilla inducting Mayor Leonardia into office, and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod inducted by Judges Ray Alan Drilon and Lorena Demonteverde, respectively.

The Leonardia and Ramos clans were in full force. Also present were Msgr. John Liu, Assistant Transportation Secretary Ricardo Tan, former Miss International Aurora Pijuan, architect and city planner Felino Palafox Jr., former Bacolod Rep. John Orola, former Bacolod Mayor Amado Parreño Jr., Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, Candoni Mayor Cicero Borromeo, Eleanor Fukuda who had to fly in from Japan just to witness the affair, representatives from the private and business sector, balikbayans, the academe and city government officials, and the mayor's classmates, among others.

In his speech, Senator Revilla lauded Bacolod City for being in the process of surpassing its neighbors through an agenda that builds human resource programs for the Information Technology industry.

He said the city is also at the forefront of becoming known as "business friendly city," as no less than the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has affirmed the sustainability of Bacolod as the "Most Business Friendly City in Western Visayas" in 2006, among the other many achievements of the city under the reelected mayor's watch.

Good luck to our newly elected leaders!*

Remember:

Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge shall every room be filled with precious and pleasant riches.