Iloilo City 79th Charter Day big parade kicks off Aug. 25
Iloilo City is celebrating a simple yet significant 79th Charter Day which highlights with a big parade Aug. 25 starting 7am from Bonifacio Drive to Freedom Grandstand for a program.
The event will gather thousands of participants from City Hall, private sector, national government agencies (NGAs), schools, non-government organizations (NGOs), and barangays.
"We are enjoining everyone to celebrate the city's Charter which gives us a sense of pride and ownership of our city and identity as Ilonggos," stressed Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog.
He encouraged every Ilonggo to unite and actively participate in the celebration to preserve and present the city's rich culture and heritage.
A Sinadya sa Ciudad choreographed street dancing contest will be performed by participants to the tune of rhythmic folk songs.
Dinagyang tribes Pan-ay of Fort San Pedro National High School and Ilonganon of Jalandoni Memorial National High School will perform in between various delegations.
This year's champion Tribu Salognon of Jaro National High School will showcase their winning wares in the finale.
Presidential Proclamation No. 21 declared Aug. 25 as Special Non-working Holiday here for "it is but proper and fitting that the people of the city be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies."
Mabilog first institutionalized the Charter Day celebration when he became mayor in 2010.
Iloilo, as a chartered city, was formally inaugurated on August 25, 1937 highlighted by a grand civic parade.
This, after the surrounding municipalities of La Paz, Mandurriao, Molo and Arevalo were merged with the progressive town of Iloilo on July 16, 1937, by virtue of Commonwealth Act No.158.