Biñan City, Laguna—Today, there is a reason for Biñan City to celebrate three-fold: it’s the city’s 11th Cityhood Anniversary, 76th Liberation Anniversary, and 274th Foundation Anniversary.
City officials have a lot of things lined up for the three-day long celebration amid the COVID-19 pandemic, aptly themed, “Araw ng Biñan 2021: Paghilom at Pagbangon” (Biñan Day 2021: Healing and Rising).
On February 2, 2010, Biñan became a component city, the 4th city of the province of Laguna, and 139th in the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act 9740.
It is a special non-working holiday for the city marked by various activities, including a Thanksgiving Mass, Paseo de Banda, press conference, online konsiyerto, heroes’ memorial, online film viewing, online dance competition, online choral festival, unveiling of local historical markers, online seminar (webinar), and recognition rites.
At 11, Biñan City is one of the youngest cities in the Philippines. But it has already become a frontrunner in its class in terms of competitiveness and quality of life for its residents.
Prior to its cityhood in 2010, Biñan was the richest municipality in the Philippines with an annual gross income of P677 million (US$14.383 million) and net income of P250 million (US$5.308 million), as of 2007 by the Commission on Audit.
Biñan also known as Biniang, has become both a suburban residential community of Metro Manila and a location for some of the Philippines’ largest industrial estates and export processing zones. Then and today, Biñan City is known as the “Trading and Commerce Center of the South.”
In recent years, Biñan City was adjudged the Most Business-Friendly City in the Philippines by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; among the Top 3 Most Competitive Highly Urbanized Cities in Government Efficiency by the National Competitive Council; and Most Child-Friendly City in the Calabarzon Region by the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children.
On its 11th year of cityhood, Biñan City will unveil its Plaza Development Plan and other city project plans, with City Mayor Arman Dimaguila hoping that this flagship project will serve as an effective vehicle for instilling among residents a proper appreciation of Biñan’s past.
“[Few] people know how important a role Biñan [City] has played throughout history. Hindi nangangahulugan na dahil tayo lang ang nandito ay tayo lang ang nagdiriwang. Kasama natin ang ating mga magigiting na frontliners sa pagdiriwang ngayon bagamat wala sila rito,” Dimaguila told the audience during the opening rites.
“Dahil sa pandemic, ibang klase ang celebration natin. Ang Araw ng Biñan ay araw ng pagkilala sa kontribusyon ng mga taga-Biñan with the theme, ‘Paghilom at Pagbangon’. Kinakailangang bumangon ng ating lungsod,” he added.
“Ang Lungsod ng Biñan ay tinaguriang ‘City of Life.’ Pero dahil kasama ang komersyo na nag-suffer dahil sa sunod-sunod na kaganapan noong nakaraang taon, ang Taal eruption, ang COVID-19 pandemic pati ang mga bagyo na nagdulot ng napakalaking problema sa ating kababayan. Ngunit sa kabila nito, ipinakita pa rin natin ang pagkakaisa,” the mayor said.
“Babangon po tayo. Ang Araw ng Biñan ay di lang tungkol sa parada. Ang Araw ng Biñan ay ang pagdiriwang kahit hindi sama-sama,” the city mayor stressed.
The Biñan City government has set aside traditional charter anniversary activities from Tuesday to Thursday as it concentrated on efforts to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In his message for the city’s 11th Charter Anniversary, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte said that all activities in the city are geared toward ending the health crisis that has disrupted Biñan’s economic activities in the past year.
“Sa napakaraming pagsubok na pinagdaanan natin nitong nakalipas na taon, dapat lang na ating ipagpasalamat at ating ipagpatuloy ang ating kaligtasan at magandang pangangatawan,” Alonte said.
“We are here gathering to witness the celebration of our 11th Cityhood, 76th Liberation and 274th Foundation Anniversaries with theme ‘Paghilom at Pagbangon.’ Tatlong araw na selebrasyon na mostly online, ngunit higit na mahalaga ang pagkilala sa mga natatanging mga Biñanense na tumulong at umagapay sa gitna ng mga pagsubok,” the vice mayor stressed.
“Everyone knows that amid these kinds of situations, we did not lose hope and remained faithful. As we face the threats of (the) COVID-19 pandemic, I have a strong faith in God, and, with the unity of my fellow officials and Biñanenses, that we will survive this,” Alonte said.
Biñan City Lone District Representative Len Alonte-Naguiat said that although they have to do away with activities that may cause mass gathering of people, some of them will continue. She thanked everyone who were part of making Biñan a city 11 years ago.“Una, gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa ating mga kasama 11 years ago na ipinaglaban maging city ang Biñan. Gusto kong samantalahin ang pagkakataon na kilalanin ang dalawang hero para sa akin: Mayor Arman at Vice Gel. Congratulations Mayor, mabuhay kayo. Thank you. Inaasahan ko po na itong panahon ng ating paghilom, patuloy pa rin tayong magtutulungan at magkakahawak kamay,” Alonte-Naguiat said.
Tourism
Biñan City Tourism and Cultural Officer Bryan Jayson Borja explained that the celebration will be held in three days but will be less extravagant, and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) health protocols will be strictly adhered to.
He said the city has opted to put less flair on the yearly celebration to focus on containing the spread of the disease and other priority activities in response to the health crisis.
“Amidst the current crisis faced not just by our city, but of the whole world, may we find the deeper meaning of this significant milestone in the hearts of every people of Biñan, that we will rise from this challenge soon,” Borja told The Manila Standard.
“Tuloy ang celebration pero ipapatupad natin ang IATF protocols tulad ng social distancing, pagsusuot ng face masks, ng face shields at pag-monitor ng temperatures ng lahat ng a-attend as live audience. Lahat ng events, hindi open for all. Selected lang ang maaaring mag-attend ng live audience, pero lahat ng naman ng events ay live sa ating social media accounts,” he added.
“Patuloy ang Pamahalaang Lungsod sa pagbibigay ng mga makabagong serbisyo sa ating mamamayan: health, education, livelihood, and others,” Borja said.
“Nagpapasalamat din ang ating mga pamunuan sa pangunguna ni Mayor Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, Congresswoman Len Alonte, mga konsehal ng bayan at mga kapitan sa lahat ng mga sumuporta sa makasining, makaturismo at makasaysayang gawain sa Biñan. Sa Biñan, mamamayan ay maaasahan,” he said.
Biñan has installed multi-layered health screening devices along its commercial establishments and government buildings that allowed it to begin to gradually open its gates.
“All visitors and travelers who plan to visit Biñan City should, however, expect strict health screening before entering for the safety and security of the community,” Borja said.
Borja said everyone has to abide by the requirements of the “new normal.”
“It’s everybody’s responsibility to adhere to the safety protocols set by the authorities as COVID-19 still lurks in places or individuals we never know,” the Tourism officer said.
Although there were face-to-face Opening Rites at Plaza Rizal on Feb. 2, the people gathered were very few and far between, and most of the celebration was beamed online through the city’s official Facebook page.
During the press conference, Mayor Dimaguila discussed the COVID-19 vaccine, as a handful of local officials sealed crucial deals for the jabs. He ensured that officials would check the effectiveness and cost of the vaccine.
“Buo ang tiwala natin sa mga companies, pero kailangan balansehin ang efficacy sa pagiging mura. Kung mabigyan ng more effective at mas mura, ito ang common sense na pagbabatayan natin. March pa ang pagdating ng bakuna,” he said.
The mayor said that in times of crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic, it helps to be intentionally spiritual to bolster attitudes and actions in a God-honoring way.
“While challenges remain, and a great deal of work lies ahead, all of this positive movement should fill us with optimism and energy as we celebrate Araw ng Biñan 2021,” Mayor Dimaguila said.