Philippine ring icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao lauded Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia for his achievements, while Senator Franklin Drilon said the mayor is a potential candidate for senator in 2013.
The two public officials were in Bacolod City Saturday for the inauguration of the elected city officials at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Drilon had to wait for nine hours at the Manila airport since his morning flight to Bacolod was delayed.
Pacquiao said he was in Bacolod, not just because he was inducting officer, but because he felt he is a part of its family and that he is proud to be an adopted son of the ?City of Smiles.?
He said ?We have all the reasons to smile? since Bacolod is the Cleanest and Greenest Highly Urbanized City, it is the Most Livable Mid-Sized City, and it is the home of the world famous MassKara Festival.
Pacquiao also lauded the government center saying he is proud to say that Bacolod has the most beautiful city hall in the country. ?I believe this will be a center of excellence in service,? he said.
He also said believes Bacolod is overflowing with blessings and is destined for greatness because of the cooperation of the people and also because it has Leonardia as its mayor who is true and kind, he said.
?We all smile with gratitude because God is with us and He will help us succeed,? he said.
Drilon, in his speech, said ?I would like to think that President Benigno ?Nonoy? Aquino III will be able to present a very strong senatorial ticket in 2013 and if you will lend us Leonardia, we will make him a candidate of the administration for senator so that he can do to the entire country what he has done in Bacolod.?
Listening to him and looking at his achievements in Bacolod as mayor, Leonardia deserves the trust of the people of Bacolod, he said.
?Looking at your achievements, you indeed, are able to build upon the foundations of your predecessor to become probably the best mayor Bacolod City ever had,? Drilon said.
Drilon said Bacolod is fortunate to have Leonardia and his team who have laid a solid foundation to move forward upon which the people can build on.
?But we must remember that as public servants, we are only temporary holders of the public trust? Because this beautiful edifice (government center) will be an empty shell if we cannot serve our people well,? he said.
He assured Leonardia that he will support all his programs the way he had supported the programs of the province and also said that he had poured in over P200 million in public works funds to the city and the province in the last 12 years he was senator.
Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. said they should continue dreaming for their people and make sure that their hopes and dreams will be realized.
Meanwhile, Drilon stressed that he is serious when he said that Leonardia is a potential candidate for senator. By operation of law, Leonardia can no longer run for re-election, he said.
?We can certainly use the talent and expertise of Leonardia in the legislature and nobody can predict what happens afterwards. We need new blood in the Senate, and I think the mayor fits the bill,? he added.
Drilon said Negros had no representative in the Senate for the last several years.
He also thanked the people for making him number one in Negros.*CGS
