Boholanos from all walks of life will pause from their daily toil today to mark the 116 th birthday anniversary of the province’s most illustrious son, the late President Carlos P. Garcia. Since today is a Sunday, as in usual practice, the following day is considered as a holiday but in this case, no declaration was made to make tomorrow as a non-working day in place of today’s Garcia day. Holiday or not, Gov. Edgar M. Chatto will lead the provincial government and all Boholanos in reliving the natal day celebration of this simple son of Talibon who became an unforgettable national figure by becoming the 8 th President of the Philippines and the 4 th President of the Third Republic. Although he is just a cousin of Pres. P-Noy, organizers an Aquino to grace the occasion as guest of honor. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, a former chair of the National Youth Commission will lead dignitaries including lawyer Fernando Campos, the late President’s son-in-law, as composing the prominent guest list of the commemoration.

The late CPG was born on November 4, 1896. In his lifetime, he was a simple and humble Boholano and was a teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerilla leader rolled into one. Pres. Garcia was most known for his “Filipino First Policy” which heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investors. He was also greatly responsible for the changes in retail trade in the Philippines which has greatly affected Chinese businessmen in the country which, even to this day, still exists. Celebrations for the day will begin with the Foyer Honor and Wreath-laying Ceremonies, complete with the mandatory Flag Raising and the much-awaited 21 Gun Salute at the Pres. Garcia Park at the New Capitol Site. This would then be immediately followed by a commemorative mass and program at the Bohol Cultural Center to be led by Gov. Chatto, Vice-Gov. Concepcion Lim, Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II, the late President’s son-in-law, Atty. Campos, also the Secretary General of the CPG Foundation, Inc., Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members, and the young Aquino as keynote speaker.

Bam Aquino is the president of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards Foundation, former chairman of the National Youth Commission (NYC), the cousin of Pres. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III; and, a mirror-image of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. The Chatto-Lim Administration has already laid out a complete list of activities for the day, which would also include the Ceremonial Planting of the White Gumamela as the Provincial Flower, the Signing of the Manifesto of Support for its Mass Propagation in the Province of Bohol, and a guided tour of the CPG Heritage House which has been declared as a Historic and Tourism Site by the National Historical Institute. This year, the CPG Awardees are Noel P. Tuazon for Literature, Charlito S. Ayco for Public Service and Zosima N. Acuram for Music, who will be conducting the Dimiao Children’s Rondalla during an intermission number.

There will also be other agreements to be sealed for the day, namely: for the Deed of Donation between the province and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to be officially inked by Gov. Chatto and Director Caesar Nonnatus Rojas; and for the Executive Order creating the Pres. CPG Heritage House Board, by Gov. Chatto, Vice-Gov. Lim and the provincial board members. The 3 rd Pres. CPG Chess Festival, which is sponsored by the provincial government and Chessmen, Inc., would be also having a whole-day chess tournament at the Activity Center of the Island City Mall. “It is only fitting that a big honor be bestowed upon a great Filipino and a great son of Bohol,” Chatto admitted proudly. (jlv/EDCom)