By Jason De Asis/PNA
BALER, Aurora — Residents on Tuesday celebrated the 40th Foundation Day of the province and the 131st birth anniversary of the late former First Lady Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon in a simple yet meaningful way.
With the theme “Sulong Aurora sa Matatag at Maginhawang Dekada,” the event had Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as guest of honor and speaker and some senatorial candidates as attendees.
Doña Aurora’s last surviving daughter, Nini Quezon-Avanceña, and other members of the Quezon family were also present.
Sotto cited the province’s tourism boom as he vowed to help make the provincial capitol bigger and more convenient for visitors and residents.
The Senate president also paid tribute to the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara, who, he said, helped him a lot when he was still a neophyte in the political arena.
“Senator Ed Angara was a good friend and his big contributions in the country as a legislator made a direct impact to the lives of millions of Filipinos,” he said, pointing out the accomplishments of the late senator’s landmark laws on agriculture, education, health, arts and culture, science and technology, good governance, financial reforms and social welfare.
Sotto said that he is also glad that the son and re-electionist Senator Sonny Angara, is now in the Senate, and like his father, is a dedicated lawmaker who has authored and passed some landmark laws in the country.
“Sonny (Angara) pushed for laws to widen access to education through the passage of the Free College Law, and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System Act (UNIFAST) to ensure that scholarships go to poor and deserving students,” he said.
Sotto also paid tribute to the contributions of former Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon who is known as the father of the country’s national language (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa).
The Senate president also remembered the noble life of Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon who, he said, was a civic leader and First Lady of the Philippines.
Doña Aurora served as the first chairperson of the Philippine National Red Cross after its creation in 1947.
Meanwhile, re-electionist Senator Angara, who is running under the platform “Alagang Angara,” brought with him his fellow senatorial candidates endorsed by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional political party chaired by presidential daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Addressing a crowd that gathered at the provincial capitol grounds, Angara honored the wife of former President Manuel L. Quezon for her remarkable legacy and contribution to the province and the entire country.
He said the selfless and outstanding service of Doña Aurora should be emulated by present and future generations.
“Kaya natin ipinagdiriwang ang pagtatag ng ating probinsya kasabay ng anibersaryo ng kapanganakan ni Doña Aurora, para tuluyan tayong kumuha ng inspirasyon sa kanyang mapag-arugang pagseserbisyo sa kapwa. Para hanggang ngayon, dama pa rin ang Alagang Doña Aurora (We are celebrating the foundation day of this province that coincided with the birth anniversary of Doña Aurora to get inspiration from her hospitable service to others. So that until now, we still feel the care of Doña Aurora),” Angara said.
Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino, in his message, said the people of Aurora should not be afraid of the development in this province.
“Aurora will be a very progressive province in terms of development,” Tolentino said.
Actor Rommel Padilla, who represented former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, informed the public on the latter’s platform in terms of health, agriculture, housing, education, long term sports development, anti-criminality efforts, localized peace talks and child protection, among others.
Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, on the other hand, said he was enticed by the natural beauty of Aurora, and would like to make the province his second home because of its historic landmarks.
