Aug 16 non-working holiday in Talisay

In commemoration of the 169th founding day of Talisay, Mayor Socrates Fernandez yesterday issued Executive Order No. 2005-51 declaring August 16 as non-working holiday for workers of both the private and public sectors.

"I do hereby declare Tuesday, August 16, as a non-working holiday in order to give the employees in both public and private sectors and national agencies within the city of Talisay the opportunity to celebrate the occasion," Fernandez' order read.

August 16 will also feature the launching of the first-ever Inasal festival. The grand event is slated in October wherein more than 300 roasted pigs will be grilled at the junction of barangays Lawaan to San Isidro of the Cebu South Coastal Road.

Talisay was once an Augustinian estate in 1648, but only became a municipality in 1849 with Silverio Fernandez as its first gobernadorcillo and Pedro Labuca as capitan.

In both the American and Japanese occupations, Talisay served as haven of colonial forces. During World War II, it served as the center of guerilla intelligence operations for the Philippine resistance movement in Cebu.

The returning American forces made their historic landing on the beach of Talisay on March 28, 1945 -an event that marked the eventual surrender of the Japanese forces in Cebu.

The city of Talisay and the provincial government of Cebu now commemorate the event annually. On December 30, 2000, Talisay became a component city by virtue of Republic Act 8979. - Garry B. Lao