Monday, August 4, 2008

Happy Birthday Bohol

Philippine President Noli de Castro will keynote Tuesday's celebration as Bohol turns 154 years old.

Gov. (on leave) Erico B. Aumentado and Acting Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera will lead ceremonies commemorating the day that Bohol, together with Siquijor, became a separate politico-military province from Cebu on July 22, 1854.

"In this time of global crisis wherein everyone – even the rich nations – is feeling the crunch of the high cost of fuel and food, I urge the Boholanos to join hands even more. It is time for unity, cooperation and prayer that the Almighty will pluck us from the clutches of extreme poverty," Aumentado said.

Bohol Day is also time to recognize the deeds of Boholanos and non-Boholanos who have contributed much for the welfare of the Boholanos and the development of the province through the conferment of Datu Sikatuna awards.

This batch comprises of Dr. Lucio Tan, chair of the national flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL); Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of Cebu Pacific Air; Beatriz Zobel de Ayala, Bohol 's patroness of the arts and lawyer Oscar Sevilla, general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Tan is recognized for his invaluable contribution to the immense development of Bohol's tourism, trade and industry, and the well-being of the Boholano people through PAL flights even at the time that the Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila route was considered as missionary, and for his visionary leadership in the airline industry by providing new aircrafts to answer the growing flight requirements for the present and the future of the country as well as in his strong support for the Panglao Bohol International Airport Development Project (PBIADP) with a commitment to fly PAL therein once it is operational.

Barazel Salazar, PAL's assistant vice president for sales for Cebu and the Visayas will represent him during the awarding rites.

On the other hand, Gokongwei is recognized for his "invaluable contribution to the immense development of Bohol 's tourism, trade and industry, as well as the well-being of the Boholano people through the Cebu Pacific Air flights in the Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila route, and for providing an alternative carrier thereby developing a healthy competition therein."

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific's vice president for Marketing and Products, will similarly represent him.

For her part, Bea Zobel Jr. is recognized for her "being Bohol's patroness of culture and the arts development, which has strengthened the Boholanos' identity as a people and has brought their cultural heritage to the national consciousness through the Ayala Foundation's public presentations thereon."

Meanwhile, Sevilla is recognized for his "invaluable contribution for the unprecedented ports development of Bohol and its strategic inclusion in the Strong Republic Nautical Highway that has accelerated the province's progress in tourism, trade and industry, redounding to the well-being of the Boholano people." - June Blanco, Capitol

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