Hans Sy of SM honorary mayor of Bacolod today

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• CHERYL G. CRUZ

Business magnate Hans T. Sy, chairman of the executive committee of SM Prime Holdings Inc., will be conferred as “Adopted Son and Honorary Mayor of Bacolod” in a ceremony this afternoon, Jan. 30, at the Bacolod Government Center (BGC) as one highlight of the Bacolaodiat Festival.

Sy and his party will be welcomed at the BGC by city officials, led by Mayor Alfredo Benitez and Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, as well as leaders of the Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and of Bacolaodiat Inc., led by John Stephen Sy, Caryn Keng Seng, and Oddette Ong-Gomez, among others.

They will then proceed to the SP Session Hall for the conferment ceremony, with Sy receiving a copy of the Dec. 4 resolution declaring him as “Adopted Son and Honorary Mayor of Bacolod” from Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and councilors.

Tycoon Hans T. Sy of SM Prime will be conferred as adopted son and honorary mayor of Bacolod in a ceremony this afternoon, Jan. 30, at the Bacolod Government Center.

Following his conferment, Sy and party will proceed to the City Mayor’s Office where the tycoon will do a ceremonial signing of documents as honorary mayor.

Benitez, in his letter-request to the SP earlier, said that Sy, a distinguished member of the Filipino-Chinese community, “has made exceptional contributions to economic development, business leadership, and philanthropy, serving as an enduring role model for community progress and innovation.”

“Mr. Sy’s leadership has not only driven growth in business and investment in Bacolod City, but has also reflected a profound commitment to social responsibility, family values, and civic engagement that resonate deeply with the ideals of our Chinese brethren,” Benitez stressed.

The Bacolaodiat Inc., an organization of Filipino-Chinese that’s been taking the lead in the Lunar New Year celebration in the city over the years, also earlier passed a resolution unanimously choosing Sy as adopted son of Bacolod.

The group’s resolution said that Sy’s “unparalleled achievements and dedication to advancing the welfare of the community make him a deserving recipient of the title ‘Adopted Son of Bacolod City’.”

Sy, who was president of SM Prime until September 2016, also held key positions in several companies engaged in banking, real estate development, mall operations, as well as leisure and entertainment, as per the SM Prime website.

He is currently an adviser to the Board of SM Investments Corporation, and is the chairman of China Banking Corporation, as well as National University, the company added. | CGC