By Dolly Yasa
Bacolod City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass a resolution declaring Megaworld Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Dr. Andrew L. Tan as “Adopted Son of Bacolod City” in time for the 15th Bacolaodiat Festival on Jan. 31 to Feb 2, 2020
Leonardia founded the Bacolaodiat Festival in 2006, during his second term as mayor.
As traditionally practiced during the Bacolaodiat Festival, Leonardia will also bestow on Tan the honor and status as “Honorary Mayor of Bacolod City.”
A press statement from the Mayor’s Office on Sunday said that the city plans to honor Tan with these two titles on Feb 1 at 2:00 p. m. at the Bacolod City Government Center.
In his letter to the Sanggunian, Leonardia said Tan is the “unanimous choice and has the full endorsement of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese community through the Bacoloadiat Foundation” to be an adopted son of Bacolod.
“The development of Megaworld Corporation in the city has brought tremendous business and employment opportunities for which we are truly grateful for, especially that this new growth center is located so close to the Bacolod City Government Center,” the mayor wrote.
Being the largest real estate developer in the Philippines, Megaworld Corporation is a formidable by-word, recognized not just in the country but also abroad, the mayor added.
“This year, we will mark the Bacolaodiat Festival’s milestone year by recognizing Dr. Andrew L. Tan as a visionary and trendsetter in the real estate industry, among others, with his Live-Work-Play-Learn lifestyle formula. Without doubt, he is highly respected, as well in the business community,” Leonardia added.
Other adopted sons of Bacolod were Filipino-Chinese businessmen Lucio Tan, John Gokongwei Jr., and Henry Sy, Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., singer-businessman Jose Mari Chan, ring icon Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Development Bank of the Philippines chairman and former senator Alberto Romulo.
