Week-long festivities await Manileños in the upcoming 446th Araw ng Maynila on June 24, Mayor Joseph Estrada said over the weekend.
The celebrations started Sunday with a Grand Parade, and will be capped by the Grand Coronation Night of the annual Miss Manila 2017 beauty pageant at the Philippine International Convention Center on Saturday.
“The City of Manila has gone a long way from being a ‘Pearl of the Orient’ and ‘Paris of Asia’ to a highly urbanized Global City. Together, we will celebrate our 446th Foundation Day with a vision of bringing back our beloved city’s former glory and beauty,” said Estrada.
From a cash-strapped city that had unpaid debts of P5.5 billion in 2013 when he assumed office, Estrada said Manila has fast regained its financial stability, which he credited to the cooperation and sacrifice shown by the Manileños.
“In the next years to come, I am sure the City of Manila will continue to realize gains in economy, education, employment, health, and housing, among others, because we have proven that we can work together,” he added.
Established as a city on June 24, 1571 under Spanish rule, Manila had become the “Pearl of the Orient” due to its central location in the Pacific sea trade routes, and the “Paris of the East” for its exquisite beauty.
In 2012, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network listed Manila as a global city.
Since 2013, Estrada has been working to bring back the beauty and old glory of the capital city through his P100-million urban renewal program, and a wide range of projects and promotional activities.
The Grand Parade, held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, saw participation from the different offices and units of city hall, featuring their different programs and services for Manila residents, as well as the city government’s private sector partners.
On June 19 and 20, Estrada will bestow honors to outstanding city employees, teachers, judges, prosecutors, and policemen. The following day, June 21, he will also honor exceptional Filipino artists who have excelled in the fields of architecture, painting, and other art forms and culture through the yearly “Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Awards.”
From June 19 to 21, the city government will launch an outdoor exhibit called “Balik-Tanaw sa Maynila” along Roxas Boulevard. The three-day event will give the public a “throwback” experience of what the city looked like during the early 19th century.
On June 22, Thursday, Secretary to the Mayor Ed Serapio will lead a fun-filled game of “Jack En Poy” for city officials and employees at the City Hall quadrangle starting at 4 p.m.
Like he did last year, Estrada will also cite top individual and corporate taxpayers in Manila on Friday, June 23, at the Manila Hotel at 6 p.m.
On June 24, Estrada will grace a Thanksgiving Mass at San Agustin Church at 8 a.m., then at 7 p.m. he will attend the Grand Coronation Night of the annual 2017 Miss Manila pageant at the Philippine International Convention Center, which he revived in 2013 in a bid to cement Manila’s place in the world map of tourism.
The pageant winner will become Manila’s ambassadress, will be involved in the city’s charitable projects, and will represent the country’s capital in various events and functions.
The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, has lined up three activities for Manila’s elderly: a Zumba dance class at Luneta on June 21, the Manila-Guam basketball tournament from June 19 to 21, and the “Gabi ng Parangal” on June 22, where Estrada will honor centenarians, surviving war veterans, and the 343 incumbent barangay chairmen who are already senior citizens.