CITY OF MALOLOS— This year’s “Paskong Bulakenyo” shines at its brightest as an even healthier looking and more inspiring Gov. Daniel Fernando lit up the Capitol Christmas Tree on Friday, Dec. 1, with a message of love, hope, unity and forgiveness.
While the Christmas Season’s activities and traditions begin again this year, lighting of the traditional Capitol Christmas Tree gives every Bulakenyo a lively spirit of Christmas because of joy and smiles in their hearts which the governor said is his way of expressing his love and gratitude for all their continued trust to him.
The governor had to take a few weeks of rest in September after he suffered from exhaustion and dehydration due to the depth of works and activities of the Provincial Government of Bulacan he immersed himself in.
“Ang pagsisindi natin ng ilaw ng ating Christmas Tree ay simbolo ng pagmamahal, pag-asa at pagpapatawad ng Diyos sa sangkatauhan. Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat sa patuloy ninyong pagmamahal at pagtitiwala sa akin bilang ama ng ating lalawigan. Kayo ang nananatili kong inspirasyon at kalakasan,” he said.
The event is among the very few wide-open public activities the governor graced and attended after he physically resumed with his works early October.
But above all, Fernando said, the only brightest star in all the Christmas Trees in the whole world and the universe is Christ, who is the symbol of love, hope and forgiveness that God bestowed to mankind.
Unity
The governor spoke of unity of the people and the province against any attempt and threat of division or separation.
“Walang hiwalayang naganap sa Bulacan. Mananatiling iisa ang lalawigan at mananatili tayong isang Bulacan,” the top local chief executive assured the Bulakenyos.
Love, not politics
The governor also reminded all local officials that politics should not rule and empower them but love and forgiveness to all. “Hindi pulitika ang dapat nagpapatakbo sa atin kundi ang pagmamahal at pagpapatawad sa ating kapwa tulad ginawa at itinuturo sa atin ng Diyos,” he said.
Fernando welcomed the newest addition to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or the Bulacan Provincial Board, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Bulacan Federation president Casey Tyrone Estrella Howard from the City of Baliwag who was present during the event.
Fernando said that all of them in the provincial government have the duty to nurture the young political leader to become incorruptible, similar to many if not all the elected officials in the province.
The governor had earlier made a call to Howard and all the SK officials in the province that they should make their roles in the government today as the first step to become excellent public servants and leaders.
During the SK oath taking at Shangrila Hotel in Metro Manila last week, Howard also called on his rank to be more excited to make their short period of serving the youth in their respective places a really genuinely memorable one through changes and progress they will make.
According to the governor being the father of the province, he and the Province of Bulacan had also gone into a number of turmoils, challenges, trials, but he battled and continue to hurdle them all through God’s guidance and help.”Maraming unos at sakunang pinagdaanan ang ating lalawigan at may mga personal ding hindi pagkakaunawaan, subalit sa gabay ng Panginoon, tayo ay patuloy na lumalaban bilang ama ng ating lalawigan at ang aking tanging hiling at dalangain ay makita ko kayong lahat na kapwa ko Bulakenyo na nagkakaisa at nagmamahalan”.
Fernando also expressed gratitude to Bulacan Provincial Administrator Antonette Vasquez Constantino including Bulacan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Rowena Tiongson-Joson for being on top of the situation when he was gone for his medical rest.
He said Bulacan is always on the lead in the national level because of the exemplary works of all the department heads in the provincial government.
But the top local chief executive also calls on unity within the Capitol itself. “All of us at times have struggles and battles of our own, we commit errors, mistakes, let us understand each other and I wish that here in the Capitol, the ill feelings will fade down so that everyone will have a good and harmonious relationship,” (Tayong lahat kung minsan talaga di maiwasang magkamali, nagkakasala may pinagdadaanan, mag-unawaan tayo, magkaisa, sana dito sa Capitolyo, matanggal na ang mga damdamin na nagbubunsod ng hindi maganda. Dapat magkaroon ng pagkakasundo ang lahat).
Castro on his part reminded each and every Bulakenyo to remember the less fortunate ones by sharing their blessings and giving them something this Christmas so that they can also experience love and joy that many of us enjoy.
Present during the event are Bulacan Board Members Romina “Mina” Fermin, Atty. Erlene “Pechay” Dela Cruz, Allen Baluyut, Arthur Legaspi, Raul Mariano, Lee Edward Nicolas, William Villarica, Ramil Capistrano, Renato De Guzman Jr, and Enrique delos Santos Jr., Capitol department heads, employees as residents celebrate with them.
