ZAMBOANGA CITY–A neo-ethnic dance competition at the City Hall grounds will highlight the observance of the “Dia de Heneral Vicene Alvarez” on Friday in this city.
The competition is one of the activities the city government has lined up to pay tribute to Alvarez, a Zamboangueño revolutionary hero.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the activities will kick-off with a commemorative mass at 6 a.m. at the Fort Pilar Shrine and a program at 8 a.m. at the “Plaza de Heneral Vicente Alvarez.
Salazar, along with local government officials and the family of the revolutionary hero, is expected to lead the ceremonies.
The neo-ethnic dance competition will be held at 9 a.m. at the City Hall grounds.
Salazar said the participating dance groups will hail from different schools and organizations to compete in a neo-modified modern contemporary dance competition based on a cultural group in this city.
The “Dia de Heneral Vicente Alvarez” was institutionalized through City Ordinance 334 naming Plaza Roma situated at the Corner of Don Pablo Lorenzo, Zaragoza, and Gen. Alvarez Streets as Plaza Vicente S. Alvarez.
Ordinance 334 also set May 18 of every year as Gen. Vicente S. Alvarez Day in recognition of Alvarez’ feats.
It marks the day when Alvarez led the revolution that forced the surrender on May 18, 1899 of the last Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines, Diego de los Rios, effectively ending the Spanish occupation in the country.
The observance is intended to drum up awareness on the contributions and the heroism of Alvarez.
Alvarez was born in April 5, 1862 as the fifth child to Don Alejo Alvarez and Isidora Solis in Magay, this city.
Alvarez died in Labason, Zamboanga del Norte on November 4, 1942, leaving a legacy as a revolutionary leader who fought foreign occupation in Zamboanga and in the Philippines. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
