Holiday in Navotas

President Arroyo has officially declared Jan. 16 a special holiday in Navotas when it celebrates its 98th founding anniversary.

The town kicked off the weeklong celebrations with an ecumenical service and a motorcade yesterday.

Dubbed the "Pangisdaan Festival," the anniversary celebration has adopted for its theme "Masaganang Pangisdaan, Tahimik at Malinis na Pamayanan, Dangal ng ating Bayan."

Lined up for the week, among others, are a drum and lyre competition, tiangge, seafood cooking contest, medical and dental missions, a mass wedding and a jobs fair.

On anniversary day itself, a grand parade will be held followed by a street party and a concert at the municipal grounds.

Navotas used to be a part of Malabon until it was declared a separate town in 1906. Today, Navotas has 14 barangays with a population of 250,000.

Last year, Navotas won the Best Peace and Order Council for its efforts in preventing crime and maintaining peace in the town. It also bagged the Regional Literacy Award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for its programs concerning literacy and education.

Navotas is also setting its sights on cityhood "likely to be realized next year," Mayor Toby Tiangco said. – Jerry Botial