By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Alliance Global Group, Inc. Chairman Dr. Andrew L. Tan vowed to help shape Bacolod into a Dragon City.
Tan made the vow at the Spring Festival Dinner Saturday night at the SMX Convention Center after he received the title Honorary Mayor and Adopted Son of the City of Bacolod during the highlight of the Bacolaodiat Festival.
“Our holding company, Alliance Global Group, which handles Megaworld, Emperador, Travelers International which operates Resorts World Manila, and Infracorp, is looking at Bacolod as a major investment destination. Bacolod City has so much potential, and we look forward to helping shape Bacolod into a Dragon city,” Tan said.
Tan said Megaworld is currently building two townships here with a total of 87 hectares.
“Part of our vision for these townships is to be able to contribute to Bacolod’s booming tourism industry. In our Northill Gateway development along the new Bacolod-Silay airport, we built the Bacolod Welcome Marker, upon the suggestion of Mayor Leonardia, to provide visitors and tourists with a perfect spot to drop by and take their pictures.”
Tan further said that by next year, a modern McDonald’s store will open beside the Bacolod Welcome marker, which Megaworld also put up.
Megaworld is also building the Northill Town center, their first commercial development right in front of Forbes Hill, where restaurants, cafes, and pasalubong centers will be located.
At the Upper East, which Megaworld is developing near the Bacolod Government center, they are building a first-of-its-kind shopping mall that showcases an iconic clock tower, which is envision to be another landmark for the city.
“In this township, we will also build a hotel to further boost the city’s capacity to accommodate more tourists and visitors. Hopefully soon, we can also build another art museum here,” Tan said.
Tan also lauded Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the Bacolaodiat Festival officials.
He said that while it is not his first time in Bacolod, “it always feels like I am coming home.”
Aside from its rich and colorful history, Tan said Bacolod always has a good story to tell and “Your very own Bacolaodiat festival is one of them.
“While the Chinese New Year is a tradition for us to celebrate every year, this festival is one-of-its-kind. I am delighted to see how the city gathers the entire Filipino-Chinese community in one venue like this, demonstrating unity amidst cultural diversity.”
Tan also thanked the city government for conferring on him the titles Honorary Mayor of the City and Adopted Son of the City.
In his conferment ceremony as Honorary Mayor at the Bacolod City Government Center, Tan said there was only one question that came to his mind: “How do I fill in the shoes of Mayor Leonardia who has already done so much for this city?”
“Indeed, it is going to be big shoes to fill even just for this day that I become an Honorary Mayor.”
He also thanked the City Council headed by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran for passing the resolution naming him as ‘Adopted son of Bacolod.’
“Bacolod is the first city in the country that is giving me this title and honor. It is a great privilege to become part of a city that is admired as a model of other highly urbanized cities in the country in terms of governance and competitiveness.”
As part of the conferment ceremony, Tan signed three executive orders and a business permit at the City Mayor’s Office.
He was accompanied by his son Kevin Tan.
Also witnessing the ceremony was Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo who introduced Leonardia to the Tans during the latter’s birthday celebration in Manila recently.
Tan’s conferment as Honorary Mayor of the City of Bacolod and as Adopted Son was made through Executive Order No. 3 series of 2020 signed by Leonardia.
