Iloilo city: The provincial government here has decided to tone down the celebration of the 125th Semana sang Iloilo, limiting it to only three days from the usual one week, starting Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. stated that his directive was to focus the celebration on the awarding and recognition of achievements from the national government, partners, and stakeholders. Defensor emphasized that these recognitions reflect the provincial government's dedication to governance and administration.

Defensor highlighted that the awards are not solely about winning. 'The recognitions and awards are not just about the winning. We are doing this awarding, but the first to recognize what we are doing and how we do things here in Iloilo is the national government and our partners,' he said. He added that the provincial government will draw inspiration from these recognitions as it aims to enhance its efforts further.

The celebration, which is culturally and agriculturally significant and aligns with the tourism program, commenced with a foot parade from the Sunburst Park to the Provincial Capital Grounds, featuring the Bougainvillea Festival. Defensor mentioned that bougainvillea plants are underutilized, yet they hold potential as tourist attractions, comparable to the Cherry Blossoms in Korea and Japan. 'We will see how we will adopt it as something official. That is not our national flower, but tourism is another thing,' he remarked.

Additionally, the provincial government is set to launch its Talamdan: A Technology-Driven Governance for MoRProGRess Iloilo, along with the Climate Storytelling and Book Launch of Klima kag Pamatan-on: Istorya Kang Iloilo.