Vice Governor Isidro Zayco yesterday said he will encourage the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental to pass a resolution that will make the celebration of the Negros ' Day bigger and more participatory among local government units in the province.

During the commemorative program of the 109 th Cinco de Noviembre celebration at the Capitol, Zayco said Negrenses should pay tribute to the heroism of generals Aniceto Lacson and Juan Araneta who led the revolution against the Spanish rule.

Zayco said the Cinco de Noviembre celebration marks the province's independence and it should be celebrated by all Negrenses.

He said that while the cities of Silay and Bago have their own celebration, it will be more meaningful if the other towns and cities will have their own commemorative activity to remind every Negrense of the historic event that occurred on Nov. 5, 1898 .

Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (3 rd district, Neg. Occ.), a descendant of Gen. Lacson, said it is sad to see that the young generation fail to understand the significance of the celebration.

He said Cinco de Noviembre activities should not only commemorate the revolt against the Spanish rule but should also pay tribute to the spirit of the Negrenses to stand up collectively and fight for freedom.

He said the biggest threat to the Philippine democracy today is not the armed struggle but hunger and poverty. Lacson, Araneta and the other heroes of the Cinco de Noviembre revolution showed that Negrenses can win this battle if they will be united and engaged in the battle together.

In Bago, there was a parde of “cannons” and a reenactment of the revolt led by Araneta who bluffed then Spanish governor Isidro de Castro by augmenting their lightly-armed men with "cannon" made of bamboo and rolled amakan, and "rifles" carved out of wood and coconut fronds.

Bago City Mayor Ramon Torres said the celebration of the Cannon Festival in the city is their tribute to Al Cinco de Noviembre heroes, Araneta and Lacson.

In Silay, the city government marked the Negros Day celebration with a program at the city plaza attended by the city officials.*NAB

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