A short program marking the 148th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the Katipunan, in Caloocan City, was delayed after the mayor arrived late.
The program at the Bonifacio monument was supposed to start at 7 a.m. but Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri showed up at a few minutes past 8 a.m., keeping a crowd composed of residents and students waiting for over an hour.
A 21-gun salute signaled the start of the program followed by the laying of floral wreaths at the foot of the monument.
‘Son of Caloocan’
The wreath-laying was followed by the oath-taking of the city’s new batch of barangay tourism officers and the announcement of the passing of a city resolution declaring Bonifacio as a “son of Caloocan.”
In his speech, Echiverri boasted of “a modern and reformed Caloocan” although he did not go into concrete details.
He stressed that the problems brought about by poverty, unemployment, a flawed system and an economic slump inspired him to turn the city around when he first took over as mayor in 2004.
Echiverri added that Bonifacio was a role model and that everybody should emulate “his patriotism and unwavering courage in defending his country.”