Trillanes Joins Aklan’s 55th Anniversary Celebration

By: Chita dela Cruz-Heap

Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, founder of the Magdalo Group, joined the ‘Pagtililipon’ night on April 27 for an evening of cultural exchange between Aklan and Capiz, our mother province, in celebration of Aklan’s 55th anniversary.

The Honorable Victor A. Tanco, Governor of Capiz, brought with him a beautiful gift which took the form of a group of creative and talented performers from Capiz in order to allow the Kalibonhons a glimpse of the rich cultural history of the Province of Capiz. The guests entertained the Kalibonhons with a creative theatrical production that combined indigenous, traditional, and contemporary art forms which they entitled ‘Dali sa Capiz (Come to Capiz).

The Capiznons presentation was reciprocated by the Kalibonhons by presenting them a welcoming performance of ‘Saylo sa Kaayad-ayad nga Aklan (Come in to a very nice Aklan) where different dances were performed by our own talented artists.

The visit of Senator Trillanes continued the next day at the Municipal Office of Kalibo where he was welcomed by Mayor William S. Lachica. Following the meeting the senator was also designated guest speaker at the oath taking ceremony of the officers of the Kalibo chapter of Magdalo Ati atihan, this meeting being held on the third floor of the Kalibo Municipal Building.

A draft resolution prepared by Honorable Rodillo Policarpio and Honorable Ananias Solina was presented to Senator Trillanes requesting assistance to finance the Hanging Bridge Project planned for barangay Bakhaw Norte towards Bakhaw Sur. The amount needed for this project is P1, 500,000.00.

Solina explained that if this project comes to fruition, it would help the municipal office to save employing a ferryman. A similar hanging bridge is located in barangay Tagas in Tangalan where the municipal office of Kalibo first got the idea.

At the oath taking ceremony, Mayor Lachica expressed his gratitude to Senator Trillanes. Bakhaw Norte and Sur will benefit greatly from the construction of the bridge, because it will provide easy access to local people wishing to bring their produce to Kalibo. Once the bridge is constructed it will be named ‘Magdalo Bridge.’/TE

caption: Seated L-R: Congressman Joeben Miraflores, Hon. Victor A. Tangco, Governor of Capiz, Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV. Standing L-R: Mayor Lulu Miraflores, Ibajay Mayor, Ms. Anita Victoria M. Ramos-Antonino, Aklan Provincial Tourism Chairman Western Visayas Region VI and Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez. Photo by: Chita Heap, Aklan Kamera Organization Member.