The Negros Occidental provincial government honored heroes of the past and outstanding Negrenses at the 125th Cinco de Noviembre rites held on Sunday, November 5.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, at rites held at the Provincial Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City, Sunday morning, said “it is my fervent hope that while we celebrate the triumphs of our past, we can discover fresh meaning, determination, and inspiration”.
“The challenges we face do not necessitate the rising of arms, yet they demand our collective response with the same unity, fervor, determination, and boldness exhibited by the heroes of Cinco de Noviembre in the past,” he said.
Lacson recalled the patriotism, bravery, courage, grit, and extraordinary strategy exhibited by generals Juan Araneta and Aniceto Lacson as they led thousands of Negrenses in the historic and nonviolent revolt towards freedom from Spanish rule.
The Negrense revolutionaries wielding fake arms made of nipa stalks and bamboo mat canons bluffed the Spanish colonizers in Negros to surrender, he recalled.
Honored at the Cinco the Noviembre rites in the morning was outstanding Negrense Samuel S. Dizon, a member of Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea.
In the evening the 2023 Outstanding Negrenses were awarded at rites held at the Capitol Social Hall led by board members Rita Gatuslao and Valentino Miguel Alonso.
The honorees were National Commission for Culture and the Arts chair Victorino Manalo, who has roots in Talisay and Silay cities, and La Castellana, NCCA Deputy Executive Director Marichu Tellano of Kabankalan City, and Cultural Center of the Philippines Vice President and Artistic Director Chris Millado for their contribution to the preservation and promotion of history, heritage, and culture;
Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Juan Carlo Piccio of Bacolod City and Olympic silver medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr. of Bago City for sports, 2022 Outstanding Rural Woman Dolores Ceralbo of Don Salvador Benedicto in the field of business;
Outstanding cultural educator and teacher from E.B. Magalona Raffy Berina in the field of education, and concert pianist Leonor Kilayko from Talisay City in the field of music.
Four of the eight awardees – Kilayko, Velasco, Millado and Piccio were not present at the awarding rites.*