Iloilo City commemorated its 81st year as a Charter City on Saturday, August 25, with a half-a-day foot parade, followed by a street dancing competition participated in by various offices at the City Hall, national government agencies, private sector, and non-government agencies.

“It’s fulfilling to see all of you participating and enjoying this occasion,” Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III said in his message during the short program that capped the street dance event held in front of the City Hall.

Espinosa cited the significance of the celebration, saying that Iloilo City’s declaration as Charter City marked the start of its development.

Proclamation No. 172 was signed by former president Manuel L. Quezon on August 20, 1937, declaring August 25, 1937 as the inauguration of Iloilo City.

The city government, working as one big family, has produced plenty of results, the mayor said, enumerating the various recognitions earned by Iloilo City, the latest of which was the “Most Improved City” award among highly urbanized cities in the country.

Last week, he said, he received calls that the city’s entry to the “Galing Pook” Award is now included in the list of finalists.

The city is also set to be conferred either the first or second place for the National Literacy Award of the Department of Education, and is a finalist in the Seal of Good Local Governance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The month-long celebration of the city’s founding anniversary culminated Saturday evening with a “Charter Day Ball” at the Elizalde Building.

The month-long celebration is anchored on the theme, “Pag ulikid kag Pagtib-ong: Fostering Local Communities by Strengthening Global Connections.”

Meanwhile, winners of the street dancing competition were the Ramon Avanceña National High School for the school-based category, City Treasurer’s Office for the local government category, and Huasiong Main Campus for the open category. (PNA)