All set for in-person 86th Dia celebration; Feb 26, declared non-working day in Zamboanga city.
After two years hiatus, Zamboanga City will celebrate its 86th Founding Anniversary dubbed “Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga” in-person on Sunday, Feb. 26, with the theme “Buen Govierno, Ciudad Progresivo”.
This, as Malacañang has declared Sunday, Feb. 26 as a special non-working holiday in Zamboanga City to fittingly celebrate the Dia de Zamboanga, pursuant to Proclamation 168 issued Feb. 24.
For the last two years, major events for the annual celebration were either cancelled or toned down in adherence to the minimum public health standards and protocols brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This time, the activities are open to the public with a grand civic-military parade to kick off the main program on Sunday at 7 am from City Hall grounds to the newly-reopened Mayor Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in Baliwasan, where the commemorative program will follow afterwards.
Mayor John Dalipe will lead Zamboangueños and visitors in the grand event, celebrating Zamboanga City’s inauguration on Feb. 26, 1937 after it became a chartered city on Oct. 12, 1936 under Commonwealth Act No. 39. Zamboanga was designated highly urbanized city on Nov. 22, 1983.
National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., an adopted son of Zamboanga City, has been invited to keynote the main program.
Highlighting Sunday’s event is the Seal Competition, Gold Fish Show Competition, 1st Congressman Khymer Adan T. Olaso Inter-Barangay Basketball Cup at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Gymnasium in Tetuan.
Other sports competition events include skateboarding, taekwondo, open water and swim circuit, biking, volleyball, karatedo, golf tournament, drag racing, chess, motocross, pencak silat, bowling, sepaktakraw and swimming. (Vic Larato)