PGMA to grace Phil-Spain friendship day
Iloilo City (29 June 2005) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will lead guests in the celebration of
Philippine-Spain Friendship Day at the Capitol Building today.
On the Spanish side, no less than the Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines will grace the affair where Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas will ceremonially turn over the Iloilo symbolic key to him.
During the program at the Capitol, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will give her message after being introduced by Senator Franklin Drilon.
Aside from joining the celebration of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day, President Arroyo will also inaugurate the Jalandoni Bridge and the Seamen's Hospital Iloilo, a satellite facility of the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines.
This is the fifth visit of the President to Iloilo this year.
It will recalled that Iloilo became of interest to Spanish conquistadors in l965 when it was discovered to be a source of rice, causing Legaspi to proceed here from Cebu. When they came to Iloilo, they immediately made the province the missionary base for the conversion of the region to Christianity. Iloilo also became a Spanish naval station, a jumping off point of Spanish expeditions against the Dutch and the Philippine Muslims and the supply base of Spanish garrisons in the Moluccas. Recognizing the importance of Iloilo in the economic field, the Spanish crown opened the port of Iloilo to foreign trade in l855. The historic decision set off an unprecedented progress for Iloilo which continued until World War II broke out.
As part of the celebration, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce with the Spanish Commercial Office, Embassy of Spain will sponsor 'Feria Espanola", June 29-30 at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel del Rio. Sixteen exhibitors are joining in the trade fair showcasing Spanish products. (PIA-6)
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