The Province of Iloilo is all set for the celebration of its 122nd Founding Anniversary through the Semana sang Iloilo slated from April 11-14, 2023. Anchored on the theme “122 Years of Championing Progress”, a line-up of activities was prepared to commemorate the establishment of the civil government in Iloilo province on April 11, 1901. Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. cited the significance of the celebration as the province is positioning itself as an investment destination under his new development agenda “MoRProGRes Iloilo or Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally-competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo”. The celebration will kick-off on April 11, Tuesday, with a funwalk/street dance to be participated by Iloilo provincial government employees from Sunburst Park to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds starting 6:30 a.m. Upon the arrival of the funwalk/streetdance participants at the Capitol grounds, there will be an Opening program to be followed by the Cheerdance competition. A thanksgiving mass will be held at the Capitol lobby around 9:30 a.m. At 10:30 am there will be a ribbon cutting of the Sumakwelan exhibit featuring books written in Hiligaynon at the Casa Real lobby. It will be followed by the ribbon cutting of the MoRProGRes Garden Show beside the Casa Real. In the afternoon, at 1:30 will be the groundbreaking of solar energy facility at Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian. At 4:30 p.m., there will be an unveiling of Important Cultural Property Marker at the Casa Real entrance to be followed by the official launching of the MoRProGRes Iloilo which will be held at the Capitol lobby. On April 12, Wednesday, at 9:00 a.m. will be the Festival of Municipalities to be held at the Capitol main entrance. At the same time will be animal spaying and neutering activity to be spearheaded by the Provincial Veterinary Office at the Casa Real. At 10 a.m. will be the Awarding Ceremony of the Top Taxpayers and Stakeholders in the Province of Iloilo at the Casa Real Social Hall. At 1:00 p.m. is the Inter-District Bag/Bayong Painting Contest and Plant Pots/Banga Painting Contest to be held in front of the National Museum Western Visayas. On April 13, Thursday, there will be a Bloodletting Activity led by the Association of Iloilo Provincial Government Employees (AIPGE) in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross starting at 8 a.m. at the National Museum Western Visayas. Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) will officially launch the “Tapon to Ipon” project at the Capitol lobby which aims to collect clear PET bottles for recycling at 9:00 a.m. Employees from the different district hospitals in the province will showcase their talents in the Inter-hospital Dance Contest at 1:00 p.m. in the Capitol lobby. April 14, Friday, will be Iloilo provincial government employees day to be highlighted by a Laro ng Lahi competition in the morning and Search for Mutya ng Barangay Kapitolyo in the afternoon. It will also be the opening day of the two-day First Iloilo Seaweed Summit which will be held at the Casa Real Social Hall from April 14 and 15. The employees have also engaged in different sports activities which started on April 3 until April 14. Events that will run from April 11 – 14 are: MoR ProGRes Garden Show beside the Casa Real; Agri/Aqua Trade Fair at the Provincial Capitol Grounds; MSMEs Trade Fair at the Capitol lobby; and Food Fest at the Capitol Parking grounds. (ECG/ Capitol News)
