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MANDAUE City will celebrate its 39th anniversary of becoming a city but legislators doubt if Aug. 30 is the correct date for such celebration.
Discussions as to which date the city should appropriately celebrate the “birthday” of Mandaue was raised during last Wednesday's session, which prompted the City Council to push for a broader discussion.
The city’s Charter shows that the exact date of the city's birth was June 21 and not Aug. 30.
“By virtue of the charter or law, the Mandaue City was formed on June 21, 1969 after it was signed by then president (Ferdinand) Marcos,” Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna said.
He said the topic brought up on last Wednesday's regular session was not aimed at initiating changes as to the date of the celebration but will let public sentiment decide on the issue by coming up with an “open” public discussion.
“What is important is that the people simply know when the birthday of Mandaue is,” explained Fortuna.
Based on gathered data, Fortuna said that the Aug. 30 celebration was supposedly the date when the city government of Mandaue was organized.
“So it is like having your birthday on June 21 then your baptism on Aug. 30,” Fortuna said.
“We just want the people to know that the city was created on June 21, 1969 and not Aug. 30. We wanted it out for discussion,” he said.
During last Wednesday's sessions, Fortuna said that the Councilors wanted to hold a forum where date of the city's charter can be discussed but no specific schedules were mentioned.
Today is a special holiday in Mandaue after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the request of the city officials.
Opposition and administration officials are expected to be together during the several activities lined up for the Charter day.
This year's theme is “Accelerating Growth Through Unity and Cooperation.”
Fortuna, an opposition leader, said he would join many of the activities of the city's Charter Day including the parade and Mass celebration this morning.
In the evening, the city officials will have a fellowship dinner at the Cebu International Convention Center at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.
A sports festival and agro-industrial fair was also put up early in the week.
