malaysiang
ILOILO: A simple ceremony at the shrine of Ilonggo revolutionary and national hero in this city’s Jaro district will mark the celebration of the 167th birth anniversary of Graciano Lopez Jaena on Dec. 18.
Special Assistant to the Mayor, Mathilde Treñas, said Thursday the activity would include the usual flag-raising ceremony, wreath laying before the shrine of Lopez Jaena, and the volley fire and taps.
The city has invited University of the Philippines professor, Dr. Randy Madrid, as the guest speaker.
‘This is significant because Graciano Lopez Jaena is an Ilonggo, and he gave honor to Iloilo. That is why we celebrate every year his birth anniversary,’ she said.
The celebration, spearheaded by city officials under Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and the Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation, will be at the Graciano Lopez Jaena Park, also known as the Jaro Plaza.
The national hero was born in Jaro to Placido Lopez and Maria Jacoba Jaena.
He was the founder and editor-in-chief of La Solidaridad.
Proclamation 52 series
of 1986 declared Dec. 18 as “Graciano Lopez Jaena Day” and a special non-working public holiday in the province and city of Iloilo.
Source: Philippines News Agency
