Bacolod, San Juan now sister cities

MANILA, Philippines - A sisterhood agreement between Bacolod and San Juan Cities was signed at the New Government Center of Bacolod City last week.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia signed for Bacolod, while Mayor Guia Gomez signed for San Juan City, during the latter’s visit to her old hometown last week. Gomez and party, composed of Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, members of their City Council and department heads came to Bacolod for the ceremony.

They were joined by the Congressman of the Lone District of San Juan, Joseph Victor Ejercito.

Gomez, former actress and beauty queen and now mayor of San Juan, hails from Bacolod. Both Gomez and Ejercito expressed their intention of going all-out to help San Juan’s sister city in her efforts towards progress and development.

“This sisterhood with Bacolod is my personal choice,” said Gomez. She added that the sisterhood pact with Bacolod is her first major act as mayor of San Juan. She said one of the reasons for the sister city relationship is the prospect of cultural exchange programs, study tours and trade expositions like the Bacolod Trade Fair in Greenhills.

Leonardia said this is a momentous event as the sisterhood agreement between Bacolod and San Juan is the first to be signed in the halls of the New Government Center. “This is also the first time that a sisterhood pact was signed by two mayors who are both Bacolodnon” he said.

Leonardia and Gomez are personal friends way back when they were both private citizens. The latter congratulated Leonardia on his recent victory in the last elections and also praised the New Government Center for its beauty. She also said that with Leonardia’s vigor and determination, Bacolod City has become one of the premier cities in the Philippines.

Rep. Ejercito said the new Government Center compared to the White House was his inspiration for the construction of their own new city hall in San Juan. He pledged to support Bacolod’s street lighting projects and volunteered to request Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for assistance.