By J. Albert Gamboa

Representatives from Bacolod City recently traveled to Long Beach, California in the United States to re-launch their sister city relationship.
Originally established in 1994, but laid dormant for nearly two decades, the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution earlier this year to reactivate the connection. The Long Beach City Council likewise passed similar legislation.
Representing Bacolod City were City Administrator John Orola, alongside City Councilors Em Ang and Caesar Distrito. Among the Long Beach officials they met with included Legislative Deputy Tyler Curley and Sister Cities of Long Beach, Inc. chairperson, Dr. Mary Barton.
During the meeting, Ang presented a 10-year economic development plan, while Orola formally invited the officials to this year’s MassKara Festival, scheduled for October.
It was previously confirmed, a trade and investment delegation from the Fil-Am community in Southern California would take part in the festival.
There was also discussion of possible exchange programs between California State University-Long Beach and the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and the University of St. La Salle.
Barton, meanwhile, emphasized cross-cultural benefits that could result from such relations.

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J. Albert Gamboa is chief financial officer for the Asian Center for Legal Excellence and serves as co-chair for the FINEX Media Affairs Committee./WDJ