Special day for Navoteños

Navoteños will celebrating the town’s 97th founding anniversary on Jan. 16 and the local government has lined up a series of activities for the week-long celebration that begins today.

Mayor Tobias Reynald Tiangco said that President Arroyo has officially declared Jan. 16 a special holiday in Navotas.

The anniversary celebration, dubbed "Sama-sama, Tulong-tulong, Patuloy ang Pagsulong," kicks off with an ecumenical service and motorcade at 7 a.m. today. Activities next week include a mural painting contest, an inter-school quiz bee, dance sport competitions, an inter-barangay singing contest and the Mutya ng Navotas beauty pageant.

Navotas used to be a part of Malabon, which has since become a city, until it was declared a separate town in 1906. Today, Navotas has 14 barangays and a population of 250,000 and is setting its sight on cityhood likely to be realized next year.

"I still have grand plans for the town. I strongly believe that only by becoming a city will Navotas achieve its full potential for growth," Tiangco said. – Jerry Botial