Mayor: Chan ‘role model, inspiration’ to Bacolodnons

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said Friday that singer-song writer and businessman Jose Mari Chan is a role model and inspiration to the people of Bacolod.

Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 6 conferring upon Chan the distinction of being the honorary mayor during the celebration of the 13th BacolodLaodiat from February 15 to 18.

Leonardia signed the executive order on January 29.

The City Council declared Chan as adopted son of Bacolod during the special session Friday, February16.Chan was accompanied by his wife Mary Ann.

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Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on FacebookHe was named adopted son of Bacolod by virtue of Resolution No. 81, Series of 2018, passed and unanimously approved by the City Council on January 24. “We feel that you are the right man for the job, we believe that with you as our model and inspiration, this city is going to move forward, especially so that we are celebrating the 80th year of Bacolod,” Leonardia said. He added: “When you are a musician, there is a similarity in a public official, you try to synchronize things, to reach out and make the people happy.” “Thank you very much for being with us, if we can only be like you and we can harmonize and straighten everything, then this city is going to move forward and will have a growth and development acceleration,” the mayor said. As a businessman, Chan sits as the chairman and chief executive officer of Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company Inc. and A. Chan Sugar Corporation. In the music industry, Chan is the biggest selling recording artist in the history of Philippine pop music, with more than 43 platinum sales. “You are such a legend, icon, national treasure, among others. You are our ideal honorary mayor because if we will not elevate, then we will be left behind and now that we have our Jose Mari Chan, who is the epitome of innovation, for sure Bacolod is not going to be left behind,” Leonardia said. He said Chan is a Bacolod resident who has sustained and kept alive the sugar industry in the Province of Negros Occidental amid the hardships and challenges time when the industry was in peril. Chan responded: “Thank you very much and I owe you a lot. I feel complemented, but like a perfume, it should be smelled and not swallowed. I am not stranger to Bacolod.” “I look forward to doing much more for Bacolod because you have to give back to the community, to the future generation, and the sugar industry. Thank you for this wonderful honor that I will be forever grateful,” he said. In previous years, the City Government also declared the four Filipino-Chinese businessmen – Lucio Tan, John Gokongwei Jr., Henry Sy, and Eduardo Cuangco Jr. – as adopted sons of Bacolod.

Source:-.sunstar.