Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay on Friday led the kick-off ceremony for the city’s 10-day festivities marking its 348th Foundation Day.
Binay unveiled the ‘Makati Makisalo’ inflatable marker at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in front of city government officials, department heads, and special guests. The event signifies the beginning of an extensive lineup of activities to commemorate Araw ng Makati.
The city chief executive also expounded on this year’s theme of “inclusivity” as opposed to Makati’s image of being an exclusive enclave for the rich and influential people.
“Today, 348 years after Makati was formally recognized as a community, and several decades after the cornerstones were laid down for the rise of Makati as a financial empire, we will be breaking that stereotype,” Binay said in her speech.
Binay said ‘Makisalo’ means Makati is not only for the privileged few, but for everyone who lives, works, or whose heart beats for the city.
“Our Makisalo marker symbolizes the inherent connection between the city’s 33 barangays. We form one unit, one family, one Makati,” she said.
The mayor explained that the marker represents the city’s initial efforts in bringing art into the public domain and making the medium accessible and involving for the local community. A video of the eight heritage murals created by well-respected artists was shown during the event.
Additionally, mobile art jeeps and tricycles were on display for the launching of the new Mobile Art Hub Project of the city which aims to promote arts and crafts among young residents.
The project aims to encourage the youth to see art as an important medium to express their ideas. With Makisalo’s theme of inclusiveness, Makati is making art more accessible even to less privileged children.
“We are removing the idea that art is for the rich. We are giving kids access to materials they can use to explore their creativity,” added Binay.
Makati’s Mobile Art jeeps will go around various barangays equipped with art materials and two volunteer art facilitators who will work as guides. They will park the vehicles and spend two to three hours teach kids arts and crafts.
Moreover, the mobile art project will continue to be implemented after the Makati Makisalo festivities are over. It is part of a long-term mission since art is very close to Mayor Binay’s heart.
Early Friday morning, the city government hosted the traditional ‘almusalan’ for all City Hall employees to promote camaraderie among neighboring offices and departments while at 6 pm, it hosted the traditional Vin d’Honneur for the business community and diplomatic corps at the Peninsula Manila.
This year, the city will give recognition to its valued development partners, which include selected organizations in the business, service and academic sectors, as well as private companies and enterprises.
To culminate the 10-day celebration, Mayor Binay will lead a Grand Salu-Salo on June 10 at Lawton Street starting at 5pm. The event will serve as a grand finale for all the activities of Makati Makisalo.