Cotabato City in festive mood on its 60th charter anniversary

COTABATO CITY --- This city marks its 60th Araw ng Cotabato or diamond charterhood on June 20 with festivities lined up by the local government and its development partners.

Along with the annual "Independence Day" observance, the city government  opened its doors to the public last June 12 for the month-long "Remembering Cotabato City Exhibit" at the Old City Hall, displaying photos and artificacts from different decades of Cotabato City 60 years ago.

The exhibit was organized by the city government together with the City Tourism Office and the Local Arts Council (LAC), featuring the works and research of Datu Omar B. Patadon and Gilmhar A. Lao.

City Tourism Officer Frondoza City Tourism Officer  has earlier invited every "Cotabateño" to visit the Old City Hall and "witness our very own history.”

City Juanday said the exhibit is one way of strengthening the advocacy on history preservation. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.....

"We need to relive our rich history and make the younger generation realize its importance," Juanday emphasized.

Aside from the annual search for "Mutya ng Cotabato 2019" on the eve of the charter day, the June 12 to 20 Araw fest offers activities such as the DepEd Cultural Show at the city plaza, "KalayaanBandigmaan" Battle of the Bands, "Flavors of Cotabato Administrator Dr.Danda City" Food Fair, Filipino Brand of Service Excellence Seminar, Spoken Poetry Competition, Digital Film Making Training, Mobile Legend Tournament, 3rd JiuJitsuNogi Tournament and Superfight, Rap Musika 2, Float Parade Competition, Tinig ng Cotabato 2019, Cotabato Battle of the Bands, "Iron Chef" Culinary Cup, free legal counseling, Mayor CynZumba, Kainan sa Kalye, Disco sa Kalye, Diamond Fest, Companion Animals Wellness Day, Agrikultura sa iyong Bayan Binhi para sa Masa, Cotabato City Negosolusyon 2019, Cotabato Motocross Competition, 60th Testimonial Dinner and Kulintang Award, Sky Diving, and the 60th Foundation Anniversary culmination program.

In greeting the populace, Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia J. Guiani-Sayadi said: "In recent years, Cotabato City became better than ever. Thank you for always giving your trust to the  law and order efforts of the city government.

On our 60th year, we continue to move as one to be better than where we are at the moment, to be the best that we can be. A Cotabato City is built on hard work, perseverance, and utmost dedication to progress. May this year's celebration of our diamond year further strengthen our commitment to promote our city and our heritage and our aspirations. "

Meanwhile, the law and order efforts of the city government paid off when no less than the Philippine National Police (PNP) declared recently Cotabato as the second safest city in the country and the first in Mindanao.

"As we hold a joyous celebration, rest assured our local authorities remain on full alert and ready to protect the city's residents and tourists from any form of violence," the lady mayor stressed. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)