116th Negros Day Volunteers’ Foundation is outstanding Negrense awardee

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization, is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Negrenses Award, which will be conferred upon during the 116th Cinco de Noviembre anniversary celebration today at the Capitol.

The NVCFI, established in August 2010 in this city, has been providing sustainable livelihoods to disadvantaged communities, as well as child development through proper nutrition, holistic education and a wholesome family life.

The group believed that by pooling their energies, resources, talents, and skills of individuals, they can bring about a better future for Filipinos. Among its community projects were motorized fishing boats, mingo meals for children of deprived families, education development, training of artists to make and market high-quality products for their additional income.

Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. will lead the celebration of the 116th Cinco de Noviembre, also known as Negros Day, which will bear this year’s theme, “Pasidungog sa mga Bag-o nga Baganihan.”

The event will kick-off with a flag raising ceremony at 7:45 a.m. and the Negros Occidental Singing Ambassadors will lead the prayer, national anthem, and Negros Hymn. The University of St. La Salle-Bacolod Masskara Theatre Ensemble will present a tableau on the historic event.

Marañon and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson, will also turn over provincial-funded projects to beneficiaries today.

Cinco de Noviembre, which is a special non-working holiday in Negros Occidental, is a commemoration of the historic event that happened on November 5, 1898, when the Negrenses bluffed the Spaniards to attain their freedom. The Spaniards decided to surrender upon seeing armed troops in a pincers movement towards Bacolod.

The marching revolutionists, led by General Juan Araneta from Bago and General Aniceto Lacson from Silay, were actually carrying fake arms consisting of rifles carved out of palm fronds and cannons of rolled bamboo mats painted black.