Palace declares Feb. 6 a holiday for Consolacion

CEBU, Philippines — Malacanang has declared February 6, 2019 a special non-working holiday for the Municipality of Consolacion in celebration of its 99th founding anniversary.

This means that there will be no classes and work in the town.

This announcement was made by the Palace yesterday but the presidential proclamation was dated January 23.

On February 14, the Sarok Festival grand parade is slated.

Consolacion is a first-class municipality with 21 barangays. Back in the 1870s, the town was part of Mandaue (which was still a municipality back then).

In 1920, Consolacion became an independent municipality. Starting 1996, Sarok Festival was held every foundation day.

Jingo Ermac, Secretary to the Office of the Vice Mayor, said in an interview that this year, the Sarok Festival and founding anniversary are slated on separate dates because of a discovery of a local historian last year.

It was discovered that February 6, 1920 was the date for the official reorganization of Consolacion to an independent municipality by virtue of E.O. 10 signed by former Governor General F.B. Harrison.

Ermac stated that instead of the traditional Sarok Festival, the Consolacion LGU will start its countdown for the centennial founding anniversary of Consolacion which will take place next year.

Sarok is a hat made of bamboo sticks and banana leaves used by farmers to protect themselves from the sun and rain.

The Consolacion LGU will also be holding a Sarok Decorating Contest at SM City Consolacion, agro-fair, and a pet medical mission at San Narciso Church on the day of Sarok Festival.

Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, through E.O. #4, has announced that the road from SM Consolacion leading to Barangay Tayud, Liloan and vice versa will not be passable on February 14, from 12 noon to 9 p.m. to give way for the Sarok Festival Parade. — John Kendrick P. Ceciban (FREEMAN)