ILOILO – The 117th Semana sang Iloilo celebration opened yesterday at the provincial capitol lobby with Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. giving an emotional speech.
This was his “second to the last” participation in the celebration which commemorates the establishment of the civil government of Iloilo province on April 11, 1901.
Defensor’s second nine-year tenure as governor will end next year.
He considers this tenure “the most remembered and has accorded a true, real and meaningful performance in our motto of reform and change.”
“We want this administration to be remembered as having made true and real our campaign for decency and honesty in governance,” Defensor said to the applause of the audience composed of provincial government officials and employees.
Defensor, 76, first served as governor of the province from 1992 to 2001 where he gave top priority to reforestation, agricultural productivity programs and infrastructure development.
He also served as congressman of the 3rd District of Iloilo for three terms (2001 to 2010) before he came back as governor through a landslide win in the May 2010 election.
In his return to the capitol’s top post, Defensor focused on restoring the trust and confidence of the people in the provincial government through his battle cry “reform and change.” He then gave priority to the upgrading of the 12 provincial government-run hospitals, environmental protection programs, and community development programs, among others.
“I don’t know how people will look at what we have done but let it be said that we done our best and what we have done was all offered to our people… we are proud to say that we have worked to make the province of Iloilo as the most progressive and most transparent province,” Defensor said.
The governor thanked provincial government employees. “We hope that the moments we shared together will long be treasured by you and the people who have been given the opportunity to work with us,” he said.
He also addressed all his supporters and the people of the province: “I am deeply grateful for your support… I’ll treasure your belief, your commitment, your trust and your love.”
After his emotional message, the audience started singing “If we hold on together” which is his personal favorite. (Erly Garcia, Capitol News/PN)
