PANABO CITY (28 March) -- The 6th Araw ng Panabo formally opened yesterday (Tuesday) with the blessing of Tabaon sa Panabo set at the vicinity of Panabo Gym.

Aside from local government officials with City Mayor Rey P. Gavina at the lead, Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo, wife of congressional aspirant Antonio F. Lagdameo Jr graced the occasion along with Gene Rose Ferrazzini, chief of staff of the 2nd District Congressional Office of Davao del Norte.

During the opening program held before the blessing of Taboan sa Panabo, Vice Mayor Ruperto Cagape Jr. called the attention of his fellow government officials and the public on the importance of "service" as an important legacy one could leave behind.

Other legacies he cited that could make one better remembered were acts of sharing wealth, knowledge put into books, and planting trees that could live for centuries.

Cagape linked his ideas of leaving legacies to sustaining the progress that Panabo had gained from its six years citihood.

This year, the city government banners the theme, "Pangandoy'ng Naumol, Bog-oson, Padayonon," to deliver its message of pushing forward the spin of development created through its transformation into a city.

The yearly founding anniversary celebration includes the Taboan sa Panabo which stage for sell locally-made products along with joy rides that people usually have a fancy experiencing during fiestas.

The Taboan sa Panabo brings back to what the city was once way back pre-historic times during which Aetas, the Kalagans (now called Davao Muslim) and the Angs (non-Muslim and non-Christian settlers) engaged in selling and in bartering in a place known as Panabo-an.

Panabo-an or taboan in Visayan dialect, meaning trading center evolved into Panabo which was later used and adopted as the official name of the place.

From being a barangay of Magugpo (now Tagum City), Panabo became a municipality in 1949 through Presidential Proclamation No. 236 signed by President Elpidio Quirino.

It acquired its citihood through Republic Act 9015 and gained public approval through a plebiscite made on March 31, 2001.

The week-long anniversary celebration from March 27 to March 31 also embraced appreciation of differences in faith as various religious affiliations converged to stage their way of giving divine thanks and praises during the Interfaith Night held last night (Tuesday).

It will also include as part of the festivity the State of the City Address of Mayor Rey P. Gavina set today (Wednesday) at the ARF Gym.