Bulakenyos pay tribute to ‘greatest son’ Marcelo H. Del Pilar

Local leaders and residents in Bulakan town in Bulacan province honor propagandist and writer Marcelo H. Del Pilar on his 169th birth anniversary on Friday. (Contributed)

BULAKAN, Bulacan—Local officials and residents here on Friday honored and remembered their town’s “greatest son,” Marcelo H. Del Pilar, during his 169th birth anniversary.

Bulakenyos observed Del Pilar Day as a provincial holiday, two weeks after celebrating the province’s and this town’s 441st-year foundation.

The celebration became a venue for local officials to tackle the planned P734-billion international airport project of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC)  here.

Perfecto Martin, leader of Kabesera, a local history, heritage, and cultural group, said SMC’s project could help “restore the lost glory” of the town and its people in honor of Del Pilar and its other homegrown heroes.

Martin said the project, dubbed “Aerotropolis,” should not only address concerns about flood and livelihood of villagers in the site.

Mayor Vergel Meneses assured the villagers who will be displaced by the project that SMC would not turn its back on them.

Gov. Daniel Fernando said there would be environmental balance and enhanced resilience against calamities once the new international gateway is built in a 2,500-hectare of private fishponds here./lzb