City
marks 43rd Charter Day today Today,
Tagbilaranons will celebrate the 43rd Charter Day as a city. By virtue of Republic
Act 8267, July 1 is declared a non-working special public holiday.
Commemorations
will start with a diana, ringing of bells and sounding of sirens at 7 o'clock
this morning.
A
thanksgiving mass will be officiated at the city atrium at 8 a.m. with Msgr. Jeffrey
Malanog, vicar general.
A
commemorative program will follow with City Mayor Dan Lim to deliver his Charter
Day message. Attending the affair are Sangguniang Panlungsod members headed by
Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso together with heads of offices, employees as well
as the city's 15 barangay captains.
The
launching of the Citizens Charter will be conducted with the signing of a commitment
pledge to deliver more effective and more efficient services to the people.
The
program will end with a dance and jukebox king and queen competitions.
TAGBILARAN'S
HISTORY
Formerly
a town called San Jose de Tagbilaran since February 9, 1742 by virtue of a decree
by Spanish Governor General Gaspar dela Torre, Tagbilaran was also formally established
as separate from Baclayon.
| | | Historically
too, the old settlement of a 15th Century Bohol, the place forms part of the "Bool
Kingdom", states the city website.
Sometimes
touted as a place called "tinabilan", which means "screened",
the city is also shielded on the southwest by Panglao Island and north by Maribojoc
mountain ranges.
Tradition
also tells that the word "Tagbilaran" was derived from "tago-bilaan",
a contraction from two local words tago (to hide) and bilaan (a Muslim marauder
tribe). | Literally,
it means a place hidden from the pillaging Muslims.
On
July 1, 1966 by virtue of R.A. 4660, Tagbilaran became a chartered City.
Atty.
Venancio Inting was the first city mayor. His successors, respectively, are ex-Mayors
Rolando Butalid, Jose Ma Rocha, Joe Torralba and incumbent Mayor Dan Lim.
As
a chartered city, Tagbilaran was established by a Congressional Act and is then
governed by its own charter from where its leaders exact powers rather than look
up to the provincial, regional or national laws. It also enjoys a higher Internal
Revenue Allotment compared to towns.
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