Norfolk, Virginia Becomes Sister City With Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

It's all systems-go as the city government of Norfolk, Virginia, USA gears up for the twinning ceremony that will formalize its sister city relationship with Cagayan de Oro.

Pamela McNaught, executive director of the Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA), told the City Information Office that the historic event that will officially make Cagayan de Oro as Norfolk's seventh sister city will be held on June 18, 2008 in a public ceremony at the MacArthur Memorial Square in downtown Norfolk.

McNaught said that a pre-ceremony reception will be held at 4:30 p.m., and the formal ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m where Norfolk City Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula will sign a cooperative sister city agreement.

"We are proud to expand Norfolk's sister city relationships in Southeast Asia. This historic twinning honors our past, present and future ties with the Philippines," stated Mayor Paul D. Fraim in a press release e-mailed by the NSCA to the CIO.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa is expected to deliver a keynote message at a dinner following the twinning ceremony. The dinner in celebration of the new partnership is open to the public that will include the Filipino community based in Norfolk.

Mayor Jaraula will lead a 20-member delegation who will leave the country on June 17, 2008 in time for the historic twinning event on June 18.

The event is co-sponsored by the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Sister City Association in cooperation with the Filipino-American community of Hampton Roads, the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation and the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads.

A strong historical tie exist between Norfolk and Cagayan de Oro through General Douglas MacArthur who landed at the old Macabalan Wharf on March 13, 1942 aboard PT41 boat on his escape to Australia via the Del Monte airstrip in Diklum, Manolo Fortich Bukidnon.

The city government of Cagayan de Oro, under the leadership of Mayor Jaraula, initiated the construction of the MacArthur Memorial Marker in Macabalan, funded by contributions from the private sector in the city and in the US in an effort to highlight the city's significant role in the Liberation Trail.

Read more here at Philippine Information Agency....