Mandaluyong gears up for twin celebration

Mandaluyong City will be celebrating its 61st Liberation Day and 12th year of cityhood on Feb. 9 with a series of pro-people activities and events.

This year’s celebration will officially commence Jan. 29 and end Feb. 11 with highlights that include the crowning of this year’s Miss Mandaluyong, the inauguration of the newly renovated city hospital, and groundbreaking of linear parks, school buildings and water systems.

An inter-barrio basketball tournament will jumpstart the weeklong celebration today at the city gymnasium.

On Tuesday, the newly renovated piping system on Correctional Road will be inaugurated by city officials, led by City Mayor Neptali Gonzales and the Manila Water Co. Inc.

On Feb. 1, officials will lead the groundbreaking of linear parks in Barangka Itaas and Barangka Ilaya. The newly completed linear park in Barangka Ibaba will be inaugurated the following day. These projects were made in cooperation with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, aimed to revitalize the Pasig River and its environs.

The Miss Mandaluyong coronation night will be held on Feb. 4 at the city gymnasium.

On the morning of Feb. 5, Maysilo and San Francisco street will be closed to traffic as the city holds a tournament for bicycle enthusiasts in the city.

Feb. 6 will be a big day for the city as it holds the inaugural blessing of the P38-million newly renovated main hospital building. Now reinforced with the necessary hospital amenities and medical facilities, the new Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC) can now boast of delivering top-notch tertiary health care programs at par with private medical institutions in the metropolis.

Coinciding with the inaugural blessing is the launching of the "Operation We Care" project of Rotarians from overseas.

A 30-member team of Doctor-Rotarians from the US will hold free medical and dental missions as well as free operations.

MCMC director Alfredo Lo said about a hundred major operations and 200 minor surgeries will be accommodated by the Operation We Care Team.

Two elementary schools will hold groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of additional school buildings on Feb. 7.

Feb. 9 is D-Day for Mandaluyong. It will start with a wreath laying and commemorative program at 7 a.m. at the Liberation Marker on Kalentong street in honor of the heroes who fought and died for freedom during the Japanese occupation. In the afternoon, the annual civic parade of city officials and employees, schools and various socio-civic organizations will cap the celebration.

A tournament for boxing enthusiasts is also scheduled at the city gymnasium on Feb. 11, while a mass wedding at the City Hall grounds will also follow on Feb. 13.