Iloilo to hold first provincehood anniv celebration amid pandemic

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The Iloilo provincial government will celebrate its annual “Semana sang Iloilo” from April 4 to 11, 2022, two years after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The events will kick off with a Funwalk and Streetdance activity starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, April 4.

Capitol employees will be divided into 6 groups, and will start their march from the bike lanes of the former Marina Restaurant in Mandurriao district, traversing the Diversion Road and will turn to Jalandoni Street, all the way to Magsaysay Road where they will culminate at the Iloilo Sports Complex.

The program at the sports complex will include a flag raising ceremony, Zumba, and a Laro ng Lahi where employees can enjoy playing together.

In addition to the Filipino street games-themed activity, a Sports Fest will be held from April 4 to 8.

A trade fair and exhibit will also commence on Monday at the provincial capitol lobby and Casa Real to be participated by different micro-small and medium enterprises in the province.

On Tuesday, April 5, job hunters will have an opportunity to apply for local jobs with the Special Recruitment Activity to be conducted by the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) on April 5 and 8, at 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Casa Real.

The Philippine Red Cross will conduct a bloodletting activity on April 6 starting at 8:00 a.m. at the Casa Real Grand Social Hall in partnership with the provincial government and the Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE).

A Kantahan sa Park with Foodfest will run from April 7 to 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. beside the Philippine Red Cross and car park buildings, where the public could wine and dine with performances by local musicians.

The Provincial Veterinary Office on April 7 will conduct Animal Neutering and Vaccination services at the Casa Real grounds starting at 8:00 a.m.

Employees and their family members will be treated to an Employees Day on April 8, while on April 9 there will be a fun ride dubbed as ‘Ride for RD’, a fund-raising event for RD Rey Zamudio, a nurse of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan who is suffering from a rare medical condition.

The week-long celebration commemorates the 121st anniversary of the establishment of the civil government of the province on April 11, 1901.

With the theme of “Overcoming difficulties, braving possibilities”, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. approved the activities as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had been consistently slowing down in the city and province of Iloilo as of recent time.

Minimum public health protocols, however, will still be observed in all events to avoid risk of contracting the disease.