Manila City Council celebrates 122nd Founding Anniversary

By Chito Junia

HERE’S a bit of trivia that some 2 million Manileños may not know. After the Spanish incorporated Manila as a city in 1571, membership to the council was originally restricted to Spaniards. On June 24, 1571 (which would later be declared as Manila Day), the municipal government, or the Cabildo, was established, consisting of two mayors, 12 councilors and a secretary. The mayor was chosen by lottery, with councilors nominating four candidates, with two candidates being drawn to serve as mayors.

When Commodore George Dewey crushed the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, the Americans took control of Manila. The Manila Council was first organized on July 31, 1901 at Ayuntamiento de Manila. The new American insular government instituted a municipal board consisting of a Filipino mayor, a Filipino member, and three American members all nominated by the Americans. An advisory board was included, with all 11 members being Filipinos, representing each of Manila’s 11 wards.

In 1916, the advisory board was abolished, and the municipal board was increased to 10 members, all of them elected by Filipinos, although the mayor was still appointed.

Following the declaration of martial law in 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos abolished the Manila municipal board in 1975.

After the People Power Revolution, the municipal board was revived, which gradually evolved into the present-day city council. The 1987 Constitution finalized today’s setup when it divided the city into six districts, with each district electing six councilors, plus two more councilors from the barangay captains and SK president.

The 12th Manila City Council plans to commemorate its 122nd Founding Anniversary with prudence and simplicity from July 31 to August 4 this year.

With the theme “Preserving Legacy by Being Future Ready,” the event will be a nostalgic celebration of the council’s past, even as it will also highlight the 12th Council’s milestones and accomplishments as the City of Manila’s law making body. The official website of the 12th City Council will be launched during the week as part of its digitalization program to facilitate transparency and accessibility for Manila constituents.

To kick-off the council’s weeklong anniversary on July 31, a flag raising ceremony will be held at the Kartilya ng Katipunan, which has its own historical significance.

Awards, rewards and plaques of recognition will be given to past and present council officials and employees for their service, loyalty, and contributions that made a posi- continued from A18 getting longer at the counters that could have been opened. Worse are the power-tripping staffs, especially the ones holding the lines for our OFWs. It all boils down to simple basic human courtesy and respect, especially among our airport frontliners.

This is sad, because at one point in time, we prided ourselves to be the most hospitable country in the world. The Filipino smile, symbol of our warmth and hospitality, was once an icon we were known for. And are we not, until now, the global source of the hospitality industry? Why do we miss this out at our own airports?

There are exceptions, of course. Airport authorities always praise the personnel who would return the lost bundle of cash to its owner. But should this kind of act not be given without the need to be heralded? In some countries, this is part of their culture. At the heart of it all is a mindset that needs to be emphasized. Each individual at the airports, and those tive impact on the council. Serving as the highlight of the council’s 122nd founding celebration, the anniversary program will be held at 2 p.m. on July 31 at Ayuntamiento de Manila. The program will reminisce the early beginnings of the council amid its journey towards being future ready. Among the honored guests and speakers are high ranking past and present government officials who will share their thoughts about the role of the city council in local governance. flying on our airlines, be it a national or a foreigner, are the best endorsers of the Philippines. Whatever experiences they go through at our gateways will make a long lasting impression. They will be the ones who will tell their stories overseas.

The 12th Manila City Council plans to commemorate its 122nd Founding Anniversary with prudence and simplicity from July 31 to August 4 this year. With the theme “Preserving Legacy by Being Future Ready,” the event will be a nostalgic celebration of the council’s past, even as it will also highlight the 12th Council’s milestones and accomplishments as the City of Manila’s law making body.

Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, Presiding Officer of the 12th City Council and head of the anniversary organizing committee, has asked the members of the organizing group to prepare a “boodle lunch” on August 4 for City Hall employees and all city council staff members. Designed as a “lighter side of the celebration,” the “boodle lunch” at the Unibersidad de Manila will help tighten the camaraderie and rapport among the employees and staff of the city council. The organizers also prepared a City Council’s Got Talent Program, a show that will feature the city council employees’ talents.

Nieto said the full support extended by the Office of Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan will help ensure the success of the council’s commemoration of its 122nd Founding Anniversary. He also expressed deep gratitude to the past councilors and city leaders who went out of their way to help ensure the success of the historical event.

Forget the beauty of the Philippines if at the gateways they don’t feel a warm welcome. That is the kind of tourism mindset that we lack. And maybe, more than just spending for slogans and branding, a refresher course on basic courtesy at the gates is what we need now.

I am returning to my weekly column after a hiatus of almost a year. It was not just a break from writing, but also more of a reset. I thought it would take much longer for me to get back to writing, but there were so many issues and concerns along the way that were too difficult to ignore.

I would like to sincerely thank the people behind this great publication as I begin sharing once more my thoughts on my journey—my Street Talk.