PINILI, Ilocos Norte—Pinili Mayor Rommel Labasan and the whole local government unit have started psyching up for the town’s centennial celebration on Jan. 1, meeting up with Piniliños at home and abroad and seeking out their full support.
Labasan and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan have met up with Piniliños in Hawaii and California, two places where there are large concentrations of men and women who have their roots in Pinili, before they went to Singapore for a come-together meeting.
Recently, Labasan, Vice Mayor Maynard Francis, and SB members including Amor Bagarino, Rey Gabur and Louie Joy Pagdilao attended the Christmas Party of the Pinili-Metro Manila Residents Association in Antipolo City at the residence of Architect Roland Polendey.
At the party, Labasan invited his townmates, now residing in the metropolis, for the special celebration on Jan. 1 and during the 10-day centennial town fiesta in April, in the month of the feast of the town’s patron saint San Isidro Labrador.
Admitting the springtime of their age, compared to the elderly in his audience, Labasan sought out their support to guide them and help them push the programs intended for the town and help them realize their vision for progress.
Labasan and Bumanglag, in their separate remarks, acknowledged the support extended by Piniliños in the country and those overseas, as well as the essay writing competition launched by the Cabie family, in collaboration with the local government unit, to make the celebration memorable.
The 17th municipality of Ilocos Norte became a town on Jan 1, 1920, more than a decade after the Philippine-American War when warriors walked the forested areas of the barangays—belonging then to the towns of Paoay, Badoc and Batac.