City residents will pause and join today’s observance of the 49th Charter Day celebration which will also be a prelude to the city’s Golden Year Charter Day grand event next year.
Mayor John Geesnell Yap who is the 6th mayor since Tagbilaran was chartered as a city wayback in 1966 with the late Mayor Venancio Inting as the first city mayor.
Yap, the youngest city chief executive will deliver his second State of the City Address at the Bohol Cultural Center this morning.
Today is a special non-working public holiday for the city, with classes and offices closed to allow every city resident to join in the observance.
A Thanksgiving mass will be officiated at the St. Joseph Cathedral at 7:15am. The commemorative program at the Bohol Cultural Center will start at 9 o’clock this morning which will be covered live over dyRD-AM.
City Administrator Edi Borja will open the program.
Gov. Edgar Chatto, Rep. Rene Relampagos, Rep. Aris Aumentado and Rep. Arthur Yap will deliver their brief messages.
Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod will convene the city lawmakers.
Intermission numbers will be rendered by the Tagbilaran City Choir while the candidates for the Miss Bohol Sandugo will be presented.
 AWARDEES
Momentous as it is, today’s occasion of the City’s 49th Charter Day  will affirm and recognize the contributions and example of outstanding and distinguished Tagbilaranons.
Leading the awardees is Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim who will be bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award. Last year, this award was given to  Gov. Edgar Chatto who was cited for his support and commitment to the city’s development.
The Distinguished Tagbilaranon Award will be given to former Mayor Jose Torralba and former Vice Mayor Luciano Pamaong, while a Special Plaque of Recognition will be given to former City Councilor Manuel Hontanosas. The trio are recognized because of their pivotal role in crafting of the city’s charter.
The top three taxpayers of 2014 are: Alturas Supermarket Corporation, Bohol Quality Corporation and Coca-Cola Philippines. The Business Achievement Awards will be given to Dr. Cristeta Balili-Tirol of Cristal e-College and Leonardo Uy of the Alturas Corporation. The Family of the Year is conferred to the heirs of Juan L. Uy and Segundina Malmis; the Couple of the Year is Mr. Waben C. Lim and Dr. Estrella P. Lim; the Outstanding Public Servant is P/Supt. George Acol Vale.
FCB Chairman Richard Uy will be given the Outstanding Leadership Award.
The Outstanding Public Service Award in the Field of Mass Media will be given to Bohol Chronicle editor Zoilo Dejaresco III, Teofredo Araneta of dyRD and Carlito Responte of dyTR.
The Outstanding Community Service Award will be given to SM Foundation Inc., Banco De Oro Foundation, Inc., Security Bank Foundation, Inc., Bohol Bankers Association, Ambassador Carlos Chan, Tagbilaran Association of Northern California and to the Bohol Medical Care Institute.
The Meritorious Service Award  to couple Drs. Salvador and Betty Labado; the Adopted Son of Tagbilaran is Police Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas; the Mother of the Year is Melecia Du.
The Outstanding Traffic Enforcers are Jeffrey Rementizo and Manuel Fortich, Jr.; the Honesty Award to PO1 John Butch Epile, Aristedes Taghap and Eleuterio Sumod-ong; the Centenarian Award to Gregorio Gallos; the Posthumous Award to Onecimo Oclarit.
A Plaque of Recognition in the Field of Culture and the Arts will be given to Teodorico Ramasola and Enriqueta Butalid;
In the Field of Education, a plaque of recognition be given to Atty. Nuevas Tirol-Montes of the University of Bohol, Rev. Fr. Florante Camacho of the Holy Name University, and Dr. Elpidio Magante of the Bohol Island State University
Aside from these top-notch Tagbilaranons, the event will also recognize the dedicated men and women of the city governance. The City Government Service Awards will honor those who have served the City Government in 20, 25, 30 and 35 years.
The awardees in the 20 year category are Corazon Antonio, Arsenia Avila, Samuel Belderol, Asuncion Epe, Eduvigis Sarabia; those in 25 years in service are given to Anecita Alcala, Fe Esdrelon, Ursicenio Espejo, Teresita Gono, Jovencio Ingking, Estella Margate, Rosemarie Palma, Felisa Tejano, and Nestor Visarra; those in 30 years of service went to Leonardo Balatero, Leonida Barol, Danilo Bongcaras, Felixcita Casinillo, Remedios Gabod, Virginia Manguilimotan, Leonita Relamida, Carmax Sarmiento, Floro Tabuno, and Rosita Tatad; then lastly are those employees who have served for 35Â years led by Laureano Belano, Emma Karaan, Catalina Naparota, and Esmeralda Ramirez.