By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff
reporter
Laoag City—The “Northern Gateway of the Philippines” successfully
opened the festivities for the 20th Pamulinawen Festival on February
1.
The fiesta celebration has become a
sort of thanksgiving for both Laoag officials and residents for the many
blessings bestowed on the city: from its beautiful landscapes, responsible
residents, a rich culture; to the various awards won by the city; and to
becoming the fastest growing center in Northern Philippines.
With the apt theme, “Blessed”, the
city was awarded the 2014 Search for LGU Convergence award by the Dept. of
Social Work and Development (DSWD); Top Regional Performer of Region I by the
city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO); Champion of the Regional Search
for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest City awarded by the Regional Development
Council (RDC); Recipient of the Golden Globe Annual Awards for Filipino
Achiever in the person of Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas; Regional Kalasag Awardee
conferred by the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and
the Office of the Civil Defense; and 2015 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)
conferred by the DILG in recognition of its efforts in advancing the principles
of accountability and transparency in local governance.
In her more than two years as Laoag
mayor, Ms. Chevylle V. Fariñas thanked all the people for their support to her
administration. This support, she stressed, paved the way for the many regional
and national award won by the city in the last two years.
“As one city, we continue to
reverberate our solidarity as with pride we ‘Shout Laoag’ and as with truth we
pledge ‘Walang Iwanan’. Blessings pa more, Laoagueño! Blessed pa more, Laoag!” the mayor said.
Laoag Vice Mayor Michael V. Fariñas
also thanked God for all the blessings and the people as well making Laoag a
fast growing and multi-awarded city.
“Let us use the power of unity to
harness our resources, our people, and bless our city and our lives with those
dreams and ideals we hold to the point of sacredness—all for a better life”,
the vice mayor said.
The month-long fiesta celebration
opened on February 1 with the civic military parade and the Dios Ti Agngina
Concert featuring Joshua Garcia, Kenzo Gutierez, and Rain Villar. The concert
was concluded by a colorful fireworks display.
On February 2, the Agro Industrial
Fair and Marikina Shoe Expo were both opened. The twin opening coincided with
Ilocos Norte’s 198th foundation anniversary.
Laoag police chief P/Supt. Edwin
Balles said that so far the celebration has been orderly and peaceful. He said
police officers are deployed in areas where many people are converging.
Members of the city’s rescue team,
headed by Dr. Medel Manuel, are also present every night, detailed at the City
Hall and below the Gilbert Bridge in case of emergency. They are joined by
Dept. Of Public Safety (DPS) paramedics team and a team from Laoag’s Bureau of
Fire Protection (BFP).
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