By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora led the oath-taking ceremony yesterday at the Bacolod City Government Center in observance of this year’s Boys’ and Girls’ Week, which runs until Friday, November 22. The city official is currently serving as officer-in-charge while Mayor Evelio Leonardia is overseas and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran is in Manila.
Local students were sworn into various city posts.
“Be an example of what good citizens [are] and what a good young Filipino is,” Polvora said, reading a message from the mayor. “Collaboration and cooperation [are] key to success, without this, Bacolod [and] the Philippines [would] not be what [they are] today.”
Sheris Angel Casurao of Negros Occidental High School took the oath as mayor, while Danica Lactaoen of Bacolod City National High School was sworn in as vice mayor. In addition, Jhon Dave Larra, James Clarince Solacito, EJ Mathios Mercurio, Katherine Zaragosa, Lou Marcial Cuesta, April Joy Dasan, Jolina Aurina, Mikylla Bucabal, Edriana Michaela Magallanes, Renz Ryan Sevilleno, Marjoe Toquillo, Francesca Uy were sworn in as members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod; while Johanne Galanza took the oath as Liga ng mga Barangay president and Juan Javier Bonnin was sworn in as Sangguniang Kabataan president.
“I always see Boys’ and Girls’ Week as one platform towards nation building,” Casurao said. “It trains the youth with effective leadership skills towards great governance, [who] will later become the future leaders of our nation.”/DGB, WDJ