Southern Leyte gets ready for golden anniversary celebration on July 1

By BONG PEDALINO
June 7, 2010

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  Golden memories for a golden jubilee.

The provincial government here has been working to ensure all bases are covered for an anniversary celebration this coming July 1 that will surely double as a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Provincial Board Member Jason Calva, during a radio block-time program this morning, disclosed that one of the features of this year’s festivities will be a parade of title holders of Miss Southern Leyte over the past five decades.

The beauty pageant has been a regular attraction in every anniversary, and there will be one for the province’s 50th year, held on its usual schedule every June 30, or a day before the anniversary proper, at the sprawling sunken garden in front of the provincial capitol.

According to Calva, in the afternoon of the same date, June 30, will be the oath-taking of provincial officials who were mostly re-elected during last month’s automated elections.

Previous public officials serving in the province will also be featured as part of the anniversary activities, Calva added.

Asked who will be this year’s guest speaker, Calva said no specific name was yet floated so far.

Another activity that will recapture the mood of the years gone by will be the socio-cultural night in the evening of June 29.

Calva said that among the cultural presentations were the hits from the 1960s and the 1970s, and this will be the first time such intensive showcase of a cultural program will be presented.

On March 24 this year, provincial officials led by Gov. Damian Mercado had launched the 100 days’ countdown for the golden anniversary celebration of the province.

The opening salvo will be on June 25 with an anniversary walk, then the inter-town town basketball competition and other sports tourneys will follow the day after, while on June 28 will be the opening of the agri-aqua fair.