Maasin City Celebrates Its 9th Year Charter Day Anniversary

Aug. 19,2009 Maasin Celebrates Its 9th Year Charter Day Anniversary By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr. MaasinCity, Southern Leyte-The city of Maasin has celebrated its 9th year charter day anniversary recently capped with a nine-day various activities prior to the culmination of the yearly event. A grand parade started at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza passing through the main streets of the city and converged at the city gymnasium, a stone’s throw from the nearby City Hall. It was participated in by the city hall employees, City Councilors led by Vice-Mayor Effie Abiera-Sabandal and Mayor Maloney Samaco,barangay officials and tanods, students from St. Joseph College, College of Maasin,Systems Technology Institute(STI),Maasin City College,PNP personnel led by Police Chief Yamba and other government offices/agencies. A the jampacked city gymnasium crowd Mayor Samaco,Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado has individually delivered their respective welcome addresses to all the participating officials, agencies, visitors and guests. Their speeches have carried similar implications on the importance of having unity, solidarity and teamwork to achieve a particular project and other things that would benefit the people and the city. Samaco in particular pointed out there is now a big difference in terms of progress and development of the new city unlike when it was still a municipality nine years ago.”Nakita na ninyo ang kalainan sa Maasin kaniadto nga lungsod pa ug karon nga siyudad na.Aduna nay kauswagan nga makita nato ug kini guikahimoot sa kadaghanan.Magpadayon pa kami sa pagbuhat ug mga kaayohan alang sa atong siyudad”, he said in Cebuano.(You have seen now the big difference when Maasin was still a municipality nine years sago and now that it becomes a city. We will continue to do other projects for our beloved city.) The Mayor was obviously referring to, among others, infrastructure improvements like widening of the main streets of Maasin, construction of the new bus terminal and wet market, new buildings for the high school Division at the new reclamation area in brgy. Combado, PPA’s Maasin Pier project, sports development for young adult students, establishment of the new city college, barangay roads, scholarship for the sons and daughters of barangay officials. Samaco has also given credit to the Mercado brothers who have helped him in many ways for the realization of his projects for the city and its 70 barangays. Atty. Emeterio Moreno, Jr.Assistant DILG Secretary, representing Ronnie Puno, who did not make it to the invitation, disclosed he was called by Puno to come to Maasin in his stead. He said the Secretary was called by the President for some important matters to discuss. He affirmed that the sentence “In unity nothing is impossible” which he saw written at the back of T-shirt upon his arrival at the city gym is a truism. He said, really if there is unity and teamwork in doing a job or project it can be accomplished. Moreno emphasized that the DILG Secretary has only one message to the City Govt.That is he hope the people to have peace and order and the development of the new city and the province thru the joint efforts of all the officials from the barangay, municipal, city and the provincial level. Earlier, winners of the Ms. Maasin Beauty and Brain contest were introduced by the EMCEE Wily Justimbaste to the huge crowds upon their arrival at the city gymnasium:1)Ms. Maasin 2009-Rhea Isabel P. Conato of brgy. Asuncion;2)Ms Charter Day-Daisy Jane de Jesus of brgy. Laboon;3)Ms. Fiesta Day-Erlyn Joy P. Vanzuela of brgy. Acacia. The 7 princesses are:1)Kimberly Rose Rodin of brgy. Mambajao,2)Ailyn S. Sibi of brgy.Gawisan;3)Kathlyn V. Olor-Hinapo Gamay;4)Jessabelle D. MaturanIsagani;5)Karen G. Lora-Ibarra;6)Maria Catherine B. Gelsano-Mantahan;7)Gail G.

Asis-Manhilo. Halfway in the anniversary program there was a band and bugle competitions participated in by the students of Macrohon Institute, José Demeterio Learning Foundations, St. Joseph College, Maasin City College and the College of Maasin.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)