In a ceremony held at the Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday, Febrauary 10, retail tycoon Lucio Co was bestowed with the title of honorary mayor for the day and adopted son of Bacolod City by the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The event was part of the 3-day Bacolaodiat Festival, an annual celebration in Bacolod that marks the Chinese New Year. Although Co was unable to attend due to an illness, the honor was accepted by his daughter Camille Clarisse Co-Lao and her husband, Michael Stephen Lao, on his behalf.
As the representative of her father, Co-Lao’s first act as acting mayor of Bacolod was to sign Executive Order No. 4 Series of 2024, which established the Bacolod Arts and Culture Council. The council will be chaired by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, with councilors Em Ang and Jason Villarosa serving as vice chairpersons.
The EO states that there is a need for a council that will manage the programs and projects of the city to promote and enhance Bacolod’s culture and arts.
Co now joins a long list of tycoons who have been given such titles by the Bacolod City government, including Lucio Tan, John Gokongwei, Henry Sy Sr., Jose Marie Chan, Andrew Tan, and Kevin Tan.
Mayor Benitez emphasized the importance of recognizing the contributions of these business leaders to the city and how their support has helped propel Bacolod’s growth and development.
