LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – This capital town will be celebrating its 72nd founding anniversary with simple and meaningful activities lined up for the said momentous event next week.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda stated that the theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Breaking Through @ 72: A Progressive and Resilient La Trinidad.’
On June 17, 2022, the celebration will start with a traditional ritual dubbed ‘Shawat tan Owik’ which will be performed by a ‘mambunong’ or the indigenous priest which will precede the conduct of the ecumenical service to be held at the municipal gymnasium.
Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap will be this year’s guest of honor and speaker after he was given a fresh mandate by the voters of the province to serve as the District Representative where his term of office will start by noon of June 30, 2022.
On the other hand, Gov. Melchor Diclas will give the founding anniversary message while Dr. Felipe S. Comila, president of the State-run Benguet State University (BSU), will provide inspirational message.
Aside from the founding anniversary program, the municipal government will also be offering a legal clinic for interested residents during the said date.
For his part, Vice-mayor Roderick Awingan will relate the background of the celebration.
Mayor Salda revealed the municipal government already submitted a request to the Office of the President for the declaration of June 16 or June 17, 2022 as a special non-working holiday in the municipality and it is awaiting the action of the Palace on the said matter to ensure the active participation of the residents on the said important event.
He urged the residents and visitors to participate in the celebration of the town’s founding anniversary even with the simple events lined up for the event to ensure they will learn about the town’s rich history.
La Trinidad is the center of trade, commerce and education in the province being the most developed among the province’s 13 municipalities.
The municipal chief executive expressed hope the simple but meaningful activities lined up by the municipal government for the celebration will draw the participation of the residents although they should still comply with the implementation of the minimum public health standards to prevent the occurrence of untoward incidents that may cause sudden surges in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Salda called on the youth in the municipality to learn about the town’s rich history so that they can pass on to the upcoming generation the importance of being fully aware of the rich history of their place which is now thriving as a next wave municipality.
Currently, La Trinidad is being groomed as a city with the criteria of income and population being met although it has a difficulty complying with the prescribed land area due to its existing boundary disputes with neighboring municipalities.
