THE Zamboanga City Government has honored 25 children born on September 9, 2013 and bestowed them the honorific title “children of hope” on Friday, in commemoration of the third year since the infamous 21-day Zamboanga siege.
Acting City Mayor Cesar Iturrlde said the bestowal of the honorific title was held in a program marking the Special Day of Remembrance aimed to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of the Zamboanga siege.
It was held following a commemorative program at the City Hall grounds with Western Mindanao Command deputy commander Brigadier General Jose Cabanban as the keynote speaker.
The Children of Hope project serves as a testimonial to this city’s story of hope and recovery following the September 2013 siege.
The children were treated with some fun and entertainment and received bags of goodies, hygiene kits, and are entitled to free medical services every September 9 of every year until they reach legal age.
Iturralde likened the siege to an old wound that has healed but has scarred over.
“The immediate pain is gone, but it will always ache and chafe, reminding us always of those harrowing days,” he said. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)