50

Laoag City has certainly come a long way. From a sleepy town in the 1960s to a bustling city that it is today. Numerous awards—in both national and international categories—have been given in droves, proving that it is now one of the best cities not only in the country, but more so in the world.

All these were made possible by Laoag residents who worked hard along with their elected political leaders to achieve such phenomenal success. From big business people, to hardworking employees of both the private and public sectors, to individual professionals who made the city their home in spite of other offers from other places, to the ordinary people who did their share in boosting development in the city and to the security forces which made sure peace and order would be maintained.

And since these progress, growth and overall success cannot be ascribed to a single individual, we thank all of Laoag’s mayors—from Eulalio F. Siazon, who was the prime mover for the drive to convert Laoag into a city in 1965; to Jose P. Santos in 1972; back to Eulalio F. Siazon in 1976; to Jose P. Santos again in 1976; to Rodolfo C. Fariñas in 1980; to Manuel Santos as officer-in-charge during the tumultuous year of 1986; to Ernesto L. Tamayo in 1988; to Cesar A. Ventura in 1992; to Roger C. Fariñas in 1995; to Michael V. Fariñas in 2004; down to incumbent Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas who began her first term in 2013—for giving a part of themselves into shaping Laoag into what it is today.

Not to be forgotten are the two congressmen who fought for the law in Congress—Congressmen Simeon M. Valdez and Antonio Raquiza. And then there was then Senate President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., who made sure the law would be passed.

But above all, the people of Laoag should also take a bow, for it is primarily them who served as the biggest driving force that propelled the city towards unimaginable progress and development.

Congratulations, Laoag and may the city have 50 more years of continuous success, growth and progress.

50 shades

The celebration however was not without any controversies. Foremost of which was the claim of former Laoag councilor Modesto Melvin dela Cuesta that he was behind the celebration of the city’s charter day.

In various tarpaulins posted all over the city, Mr. Dela Cuesta was being thanked for his “research”. It was brought to fore however that the charter day celebration was not institutionalized in the Laoag City council as this became a source of heated debates among council members then.

As much as Mr. Dela Cuesta insisted that the charter day be celebrated on June 19, a majority of the councilors then rejected this, pointing out that Laoag actually—and officially—became a city on January 1, 1966 after the plebiscite and not June 19, 1965. The June 19, 1965 date was the day the law creating Laoag City was passed but a plebiscite was needed for it to be implemented.

In the minutes of a session specific to this issue, then Laoag councilor Vicentito M. Lazo only agreed to the celebration of charter day on June 19, 2006 simply because preparations by the city government have already been made.

To buttress this fact, the charter day celebration still needs Executive Orders from Malacañang Palace for the day to be declared as a special non-working holiday in Laoag City.

For whatever it is worth, Mr. Dela Cuesta deserves our gratitude for reminding all of us—especially Laoag residents of the kind of person that he is.