President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared March 2, 2010 a special non-working holiday in La Union as the province’s marked its 160th foundation anniversary.
Based on Proclamation No. 2007 dated Feb. 22, 2010 , the President, through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, declared the said date a holiday for the people of La Union to enjoy the celebration on the birth of the province.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of La Union be given full opportunity to celebrate this milestone in their province’s history with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation stated.
La Union was created as a province on March 2, 1850 through a historic superior decreto signed by then Spanish Governor-General Antonio Maria Blanco.
The province was founded by the “real father of La Union”, Captain General Narciso Zaldua Claveria who was considered as Spain ’s most dynamic colonial executive in the 19th century.
La Union , which means unification, is the union of three contiguous geographical territories of the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Benguet.
The first governor of La Union is Don Toribio Ruiz de la Escalera who was designated on March 4 , 1850, two days after the creation of the province while the first civil governor is Don Juaquin Ortega.
Ortega was appointed to the position during the American regime on August 15, 1901 by the Taft Commission under then Governor General William Howard Taft.
During the foundation anniversary, the provincial government, headed by Governor Manuel Ortega, has lined up a week-long activities which will feature the “wealth and wonders” of the province.
The main celebration of the foundation day will be highlighted with the selection and coronation of the “Mutya ng La Union 2010” at the plaza here on March 2. |
