AS he and fellow elected officials enter their first six months into public service, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy called on Kagay-anons to embody the spirit of love and generosity of the holiday season towards each other.
“Two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, we are now seeing (more signs that things will definitely get better). That should give us hope (for the future) and this Christmas season, we should be full of hope and love for each other and for God. We should hope (for better things) and we need (the) love that’s ready to serve the public interest,” Mayor Klarex said in Visayan during yesterday evening’s launching of the ‘Festival of Lights’ at City Hall.
The annual Christmas lighting activity done simultaneously at both City Hall and nearby Gaston Park was supposed to be held during the opening week of December as per tradition.
But Mayor Uy explained during the Dec. 5 flag-raising program at City Hall that technical difficulties and weather conditions caused the delay and asked the City Public Services Office (CPSO) to make repairs.
“I asked the CPSO to make the necessary repairs so we can hold the lighting activity ahead of City Hall’s annual Christmas party. Our theme for this year’s celebration is ‘White Christmas’ since I believe that this season should be about hope and our unity as a people and a city,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.
Yesterday’s lighting was attended by the 20th City Council led by Vice Mayor Jocelyn ‘Bebot’ Rodriguez.
In his brief message, Mayor Uy said while love and generosity mark the annual celebration of Christmas and New Year, Kagay-anons should also embrace both hope and love of serving others.
“We should show (the) love that’s ready to serve and to encourage others…love that’s ready to shine in our darkest moments and light the way for others to follow,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.
Yesterday’s Christmas lighting activity was the first for Mayor Uy and some of the newest elected members of the 20th City Council.
The mayor also graced the Dec. 1 launching of two activities under City Hall’s ‘Pasko de Oro’’ (Christmas in Cagayan de Oro) calendar — a school and barangay band competition and the ‘Paskorela’, a contest for the best-decorated motorela (local motorized cab) — that were both held in front of the City Hall mini-park. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
