Unveiling of the centennial logo and groundbreaking of the centennial monument.
From left: GSO Rene Quezada, PA Vincent Michael Velasco, Atty Mara Sore, BM Adeline Angeles, BM Ishmael Lim, Boac Mayor, Armi Carrion, Vice-Gov. Jun Bacorro, Governor Presby Velasco, PEO Leal, BM John Pelaez, BM Jojo Leva, BM Gilbert Daquioag, BM John Fernandez and BM Mel Encabo.
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'Ethos' means character in Greek. Marinduque has always been known as a peaceful province but sadly, to the point of being “lethargic” for some, "sleepy" or even one that has “slept the Rip Van Winkle sleep”. But it is
apparently “waking up” now, as the local business sector now appears really bent on showing what
it could contribute to progress, not what it could ask from the local government. There's a different kind of excitement to share what they really could offer as social media posts seem to prove. And it's in the air. There's enthusiasm you could feel, and if that's the
case, then a fast-growing positive shift in ethos is encroaching.
Recently nothing could stop this excitement and enthusiasm, too in connection with a recent event, not even an intensified tropical cyclone warning by PAGASA and incessant rains could prevent the fever. People here from all over just want to get involved in said event - the 100-Day Countdown to Marinduque Centennial Year 2020.
100 years only? Some still wonder. How could mesmerizing Marinduque be so young when it has an
ancient history, they ask. Indeed some of her towns were established more than
400 years ago. But perhaps, this mystical island smack center of the
Philippines could be likened to a maiden cherished or coveted in various
periods by provinces enamored by her - Batangas, Mindoro and the former Tayabas before she
was given the chance to prove herself independent but only for a brief reign during the American period in 1901.
It took nearly two decades thenceforth until Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison signed Executive Order No. 12
reestablishing this wondrous island as an independent province, and she has functioned without interruption since - but somehow remained 'lethargic' for a long time.
Marinduque is the only remaining 4th Class island-province in terms of income in the MIMAROPA Region. There's no way to go but up now.
Marinduquenos have made it a point to kick-start her
Centennial Year 2020 with a long motorcade around the island lasting for hours.
What transpired on November 14th, the start of the 100-day countdown?
Motorcade started from the Capitol. PNP Mobile Force was led by
PD PCol Cresenciano Landicho
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One of the
earliest to arrive at the Capitol for this event was no less than the 'Centennial Governor' himself, Gov.
Presbitero “Presby” Velasco, Jr. Then other provincial officials led by Vice-Gov. Jun
Bacorro and his board members came riding in their official cars properly
displaying the colorful centennial logo. All department heads, heads of national
government agencies, civil society orgs, the business sector and motorcycle
groups joined the motorcade that started at 6:00 am.
Starting at Kilometer “0” right across
the national road across the capitol. PNP Provincial Director, PCol
Cresenciano A. Landicho together with his entire police mobile force effectively acted as
marshals. They have earlier determined the motorcade route in coordination
with the municipal PNPs.
Led by young festival drummers from Sta. Cruz riding a truck, the
motorcade went south to Gasan with the entire officials of the municipality of
Boac led by Mayor Armi Carrion decidedly joining the entire motorcade route throughout
the island-province. Hundreds of screaming school children lined up the streets in
areas where there are schools nearby waving paper flaglets .
Near the boundary of Boac-Gasan the
contingent from the province’s ‘cultural nerve-center’ (Gasan) joined the
motorcade with their own motorcycle riders up to boundary of Buenavista-Gasan
where the Buenavista contingent complete with a drum and lyre corps were
stationed, and where the Gasan group was to disengage.
Flaglets, banners, white and blue balloons and candies, fans and
other giveaways were distributed to those lining up the streets to cheer the
motorcade.
The same happy scenario was repeated as the motorcade passed
through the towns of Torrijos Mayor Lorna Q. Velasco, of Sta. Cruz Mayor Tonton Uy, of Mogpog Mayor Augusto Livelo with all their municipal officials joining in, then
back to Boac, arriving at the capitol grounds at about 11:30 am. The rains
didn’t matter. Barangay officials then came, converging at the Convention
Center to join the other invited guests for lunch and to watch other scheduled
activities in the afternoon.
Meanwhile all capitol employees were having fun upon the arrival of the motorcade with a
Boodle Fight set-up cum all-Filipino food at the back of the capitol building . Provincial administrator Vincent Michael Velasco joined them amid cheers.
A boodle-fight set-up at the capitol
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A thanksgiving mass for all the wonderful blessings that the
province of Marinduque was showered with by the Almighty in this period of
history (‘we are on the cusp’ states Gov. Velasco), was celebrated by no less
than the Bishop of Boac, Most Rev. Marcelino Maralit, Jr. at 1:00 pm at the Convention
Center. Then the program started.
Most Reverend Bishop of Boac Marcelino Maralit
celebrates the Thanksgiving Mass
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Vice-Governor Romulo Bacorro, Jr, joined on stage by his hardworking board members wearing black T-shirts printed with the centennial logo, was
happy to announce the declaration by the SP of Gov. Velasco as the ‘Centennial
Governor’, Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the ‘Centennial Congressman’ (the next Speaker of the House was prevented by the rough seas to travel from Lucena), and the 15th
SP as the ‘Centennial Sangguniang Panlalawigan’.
This was followed by the SP adoption
of the Centennial Logo and the winning Centennial Song, “Nag-aalab na Puso”,
composed by three students of Marinduque National High School. Then the meaning
of the Centennial Logo was read by the emcee, Rino Labay of PDRRMO, who also announced
the issuance of an Executive Order by Velasco enjoining all concerned LGUs, NGAs, business
establishments to use the centennial logo in their letterheads, documents,
business permits and tarps.
Then it was Gov. Velasco’s turn to deliver his “Ulat” on the
Dawning of the Golden Era for Marinduque. Guided merely by a few slide photos,
the governor delivered a speech from the heart, not once taking a glance at his
prepared speech. The very appreciative audience interrupted him several times
with their applause.
Centennial Governor Presby Velasco
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Velasco highlighted just some of the accomplishments made
during his first months as governor. Some of them, among many others he mentioned, was an
unprecedented move to expropriate the Marcopper mine site of all lands titled
or untitled, and repair of the Marcopper roads that have been neglected for
decades and has been a perennial outcry of many barangays in the area since
then; he also shared a consensus that the class suit against the owners of
Marcopper shall now be filed in the Philippines instead of Canada.
Then after talks with DBP top officials the
provincial government’s existing loan has been substantially reduced from 245-M
to 187-M, he announced, therefore saving on huge interests. He also reported that his revenue generation
program through economic enterprise has generated P 3-M for only three months (August-October
2019), through commercial sand and gravel activities as compared to only P
500,000 recorded by the Treasury during the first 6 months of 2019.
And to solve the perennial problem with lack of essential drugs and medicines in the
provincial and district hospitals, as well as the lack of medical equipment the Governor reported that a consignment and concession agreement with MacTycoon Marketing has been entered into by the provincial government:
"Hopefully by middle of December we will not have the same problem with supply of medicines... They will soon be bringing in a lot of medical equipment that we don't have right now because we just don't have the money to buy... medical services that our kababayans have been deprived of will soon be available such as state-of-the-art CT-scan, dialysis machines, state-of-the-art x-ray machine and equipment, complete laboratory facilities, 2D-echo, BCG..." (louder applause);
As elected president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), he has sought the implementation hopefully by next year, of LGU share in national taxes that could mean automatic release of the amount of P 1-Billion for each province.
Unprecedented in the island-province to solve one of the most pressing issues. A consignment and concession agreement to provide essential drug and medicines, hospital and medical equipment signed.
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More applause. The first days of brave initiatives and significant
actions indeed, in the dawning of the golden era for Marinduque...
After Gov. Velasco’s truly inspiring and enlightening speech, everyone
was invited to the capitol grounds just outside the Convention Center to
witness the ceremonial unveiling of the Centennial Logo handled by the tourism
office and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Centennial Marker organized by
Board Member Mel Encabo, chair of SP’s tourism and culture and arts committee. Vice-Governor Bacorro and his board members led by BM Adeline Angeles joined the ceremonies.
The awaited day-long event was capped by the turn-over to
the capitol of vehicles and equipment from DA-PRDP and agricultural supplies
and farm equipment to farmer beneficiaries from the six towns.
Marinduque News’ correspondent Adrian Rosales and company covered the
entirety of the motorcade with live streaming on Facebook and also reported on
the afternoon events.
By 5:00 pm with intermittent rains the 12-hours of non-stop
activity was over but not a people’s happiness and continued excitement for the forthcoming Centennial events even as, courtesy of Tropical
Storm Ramon, night fell so quickly.