To celebrate its 72nd Liberation and 23rd Cityhood anniversary this coming February 9, the City Government has lined up a series of festive activities and competitions for residents and the general public starting on January 27 and will last for two weeks.
On Friday, at 6 p.m., the city government will give recognition to 27 of its barangay tanods or “Bantay Bayan” as the 2016 most outstanding volunteer during the Gabi ng Pasasalamat at the City Gymnasium.
To continue the local government’s healthy lifestyle campaign among the general public, the 10th Annual Nutri-Fun Run, organized by the Mandaluyong City Nutrition Committee, will be held on Sunday (January 29) and will start at the city hall grounds.
The 73rd batch of skilled workers trained under the Mandaluyong Manpower Development & Training Center
will hold its commencement exercises on January 30, 2 p.m. at the City Gymnasium.
The city government will also hold a week-long Trade Expo and Regional Food Fair which will begin on January 31. It will be held at the parking area fronting the Mandaluyong PNP Building until February 3. In addition to this is the 5th Annual Niños De Mandaleños
Cultural Exhibit of Santo Niño Images which will be held at the atrium of the Executive Building.
Thru the Mandaluyong-San Juan Parole and Probation Office and the city government, Mandaluyong will also be the host to the visiting Volunteer Probation Officers from Japan who will arrive on the same day.
On the afternoon of February 1, students from all over the city will show off their dance moves as they compete in the 8th annual Inter-school Dance Sports Competition at the City Gymnasium. And on 6 p.m., the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir will serenade music lovers at the Kaban ng Hiyas Auditorium with an all-Filipino repertoire.
The Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod will become the stage of the best and the brightest students in the city as they compete in the 3rd Talinong Mandaleño Inter-School Spelling Bee & Quiz Bee and the 13th Annual Inter-School Oratorical & Declamation Contests. This will happen on February 2 at 1 p.m.
The evening of February 3 and 4 will be filled will glamour when the most beautiful women representing all the barangays in the city compete in the 2017 Miss Mandaluyong and Bilbiling Mandaluyong respectively. The coronation night of both competition will happen at the City Hall Grounds at 7 p.m.
The San Francisco Street, Maysilo Circle and selected streets in Barangay Plainview will be temporarily closed to traffic at 5 a.m. on February 5 (Sunday) to give way to a Cycling Race organized by the Mandaluyong All Bikers Association. Then, at 9 a.m. the same day, a short Ati-Atihan Parade and competition will happen in Barangays Poblacion, Pag-Asa, Burol, Harapin Ang Bukas, Daang Bakal and Hagdan Bato Itaas.
The local government will recognize its top taxpayers, and will award twelve Ulirang Mandaleños for 2017 at the Liberation Ball on February 7 to be held at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.
On Liberation Day, February 9, a commemorative Program will be held at Gen. Kalentong Street in Barangay Pag-Asa at 7:30 a.m. to be followed by a military and civic parade at 2:30 p.m. A thanksgiving concert featuring some of the hottest bands in the country, as well as local talents of Mandaluyong, will then follow at 7 p.m. at the Dambana ng Alaala, Maysilo-Boni Avenue.
Aside from the festivities, Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos will also lead the turnover of several new facilities and equipment to selected barangays in the city and local government departments during the city’s twin celebration.