CATARMAN, Northern Samar- Governor Jose Ong, Jr. led the 49th founding anniversary of the province with series of activities lined up to enliven up the celebration. This year’s founding theme “One Province, One People, reshaping the future through Change,” underscores the effort of the administration of Gov. Ong to improve not only the living condition of the people but the image of the province, one of the most depressed in the country. The founding celebration of Northern Samar, which falls on June 19 coinciding with the 66th birthday of the governor, was highlighted with series of activities lined up starting with a morning program held at the New Capitol Building on June 16 with all the municipal flags of the province’s 24 towns raised. In his anniversary message, Gov. Ong congratulated the people of the province as he urged them to work hand on hand with his administration to bring change in the province. “An selebrasyon mas nga magigin maupay kun an ngatanan nga Nortihanun makakaupod ta san selebrasyon, kay para siton nga more than 50% nga nagkukuri waray kahulugan ini nga selebrasyon kun waray pinanganga-on sin tulo ka beses san kada adlaw. So mao iton an mas dako nga aton hirimuon nga an kakuri-an san probinsiya maibanan basi mas maupay an pag selebrar sini nga anibersaryo. No matter how much we celebrate, we can’t make it meaningful if we can’t bring difference in the life of our poor or majority of Nortihanun. For me, the most important task is to make our province more progressive and reduce poverty specially that we are going to celebrate the golden anniversary of the province (next year),” the governor said. Figure 1 The Festival Parade from Capitol Ground to down town Catarman main streets end at Freedom Park. A Mass was held at the Ibabao Hall of the provincial capitol building followed by a festival parade with the participants coming from various sectors and groups in attendance. At the same venue, a “solidarity lunch” participated by municipal and provincial officials together with the province’s two solons, Emil Ong and Harlene Abayon, was held. An agri-eco-tourism fair at the Sacred Heart Capitol grounds also served as one of the highlights of the celebration. And for this year, 13 young and beautiful ladies coming from different towns of the province vied the crown for this year’s Miss Northern Samar. On the night of June 19, a variety cultural program was held at the Catarman Freedom Park, beginning the countdown for next year’s 50th founding anniversary of the province. Northern Samar was created by virtue of Republic Act 4221 approved by Congress on 1963 which effectively divided the Samar Island into three provinces- (western) Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. The law was ratified in a plebiscite on June 19, 1965, and two years later, the first officials of Northern Samar were elected. (TITO TEPACE)
