Baclayon turns 410 on Friday

AS old town Baclayon officially turns another page for its 410th foundation anniversary Friday, new infrastructure, agro-industrial fair and cultural showcases mark the historic milestone. Adopting the theme “Tagbong Lungsodnon alang sa Kaugmaon, the events also gather Baclayanons and guests into the open air auditorium, the reclamation and the cultural center for the activities set for the big day, November 17. The day-long activity also gathers the province's most respected political leaders in a program that would surely bring the good news “straight from the horse's mouth” to the revelers.

Representative Edgar Chatto, Governor Erico Aumentado, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera, homegrown Board Member Felix Uy, Mayor Benecio Uy, Msgr. Vicente Nunag Jr and philanthropist Hans Schoof would share the stage during the day's activities. To mark the day's historic significance, local officials and the people would witness the blessing of the priority projects in the new annex building, cultural center and women center of the town. All the projects have been implemented using local and national government sources. After the opening ceremonies starting with a flag raising ceremony and a thanksgiving mass at the equally quaint Baclayon Church , an agro-industrial fair spreads at the reclamation site, behind the municipal hall at 11. At the pre-luncheon program, the town guests would witness the awarding of citations and recognitions to outstanding Baclayanons who have been unwavering symbols of the town.

In the evening, cultural showcase stages at the town's cultural afficionados gather at the cultural center. The cultural program opens with Baclayon High School 's rendition of an invocatory number followed by the hymns. The significance of the day and the role Baclayon has assumed since 1595 when the Spanish missionaries came upon the request of Sra. Catalina de Bolanos would be read by historian Jose Marianito Luspo. In drawing the plan for the cultural presentations, local officials have decided to form clusters to fit the 17 barangays into 8 presentations complimented by the 2 from Baclayon teachers and local officials.

Cluster 1 includes the barangays Laya, Cambanac and Buenaventura. Cluster 2 has Libertad, Dasitam and Tanday while cluster 3 shows with San Vicente and San Isidro. Cluster 4 comes with San Roque and Montaña while Landican and Payahan represents cluster 5. Poblacion is alone for Cluster 6, Sta Cruz and Pamilacan comprise cluster 7 and Guiwanon and Taguihon represents cluster 8. The night's emcee would be Councilor Bebot Apale.

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