• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Retail magnate Lucio Co, his wife Susan, and a daughter, are guests of honor during the conferment ceremony of the former as Adopted Son and Honorary Mayor of Bacolod City this morning, Feb. 10, at the Government Center.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez and first lady Dominique “Nikki” Lopez-Benitez, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, Bacolaodiat Festival 2024 officers, and the Filipino-Chinese community, are part of the reception party welcoming the self-made billionaire couple and entourage.
The SP has declared Co, owner and chairman of Puregold and S&R Membership Shopping, among others, as Adopted Son of Bacolod Jan. 10, and will be the honorary mayor of the highly-urbanized city Feb. 10, in line with the ongoing 19th Bacolaodiat Festival celebration.
The SP said that Co has played a pivotal role in investing in Bacolod, that contributed to the city’s economic growth and progress.
Benitez earlier requested the SP to pass the resolution, as per recommendation of the Bacolaodiat Inc., an association of Filipino-Chinese community that has been leading the Lunar New Year celebration in Bacolod since 2006.
“Co has brought significant contribution to the business and investment landscape of Bacolod and has led an exemplary yet low-keyed lifestyle, worthy of emulation of the future generation,” the mayor said, adding that “best known as a visionary in retail shopping space, Co has crafted a brilliant masterplan to bring affordable goods and seamless service to Filipinos.”
“Through his various businesses, Co has helped thousands of Filipino workers by creating job opportunities through his retail empire; he is also a proponent of scholarships in various schools, thereby uplifting the lives of our less fortunate yet talented youth, through education,” Benitez stressed.
After the conferment of Co as adopted son, the SP members, led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, will escort Co and party to the City Mayor’s Office, where Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, secretary to the mayor, will read the executive order naming the tycoon as honorary mayor of Bacolod.
A ceremonial signing of documents will also be witnessed by Benitez and others, followed by a fellowship. | CGC
