REMAI ALEJADO
Zambosur PPB
It was merry night for Gov. Aurora Cerilles as she took part in the city’s celebration celebration of the Chinese New Year, Jan. 25, led by Mayor Samuel Co and the Filipino-Chinese community at Plaza Luz.
Cerilles, born in the year of the Ox, wore a Chinese terno that evening.
In her inspirational message to the city’s Filipino-Chinese community, she said: “We all look forward to the coming of the Chinese New Year, which has become a gesture of appreciation and respect to the contributions of our Chinese brethren in forging the advancement of business, commerce and trade in the city.”
The year of the Ox means hard work, added the governor, and that this year should be a season for dynamism and a time for good ideas for the city government in its quest for more development.
“Strong and hardworking as an Ox, let us build new dimensions of progress, upgrading productivity and enterprise as we give our best in contending with the current economic challenges.”
“This is not the time to slumber, neither the time to remain complacent; this is the season of action. Everyone should give his part in community progress,” Cerilles said.
Newly installed Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director James Elridge Adriancem likewise was there to greet visitors and the community.
According to him, Pagadian is the only city in Mindanao that publicly celebrates the Chinese New Year.
“We need to act as one so that good fortune will lead our lives more wonderful. Let us tell the whole world that our city is the paradise of Zamboanga Peninsula,” he said.
Co, who is also the president of the Pagadian City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that his administration always observe important dates like the Chinese New Year, the Paskuhan and Pasalamat festivals, Eid’l Fit’r and Buklog as a tradition.