(Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, along with Vice Mayor Geld Aquino and the City Council, confers an award to Alex Castro, an advocate of culture and heritage, for the Bayung Mabalacat song.)
MABALACAT – City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo on Monday recognized a leading advocate for the preservation of Mabalacat’s rich culture and heritage for “co-creating” a new theme song that captures the reforms and progress seen in Pampanga’s northernmost city.
During the weekly flag raising here, Garbo conferred a Plaque of Appreciation to Alex Castro, a resident of this city who has written “Bayung Mabalacat”, an anthem-like piece that heralds the transformation of Mabalacat.
The song, intellectual ownership of which was recently transferred to the city government, will be played during official activities of the city.
The conferment was also based on a resolution passed by the Mabalacat City Council headed by Vice Mayor Geld Aquino that commends Castro for “conceiving, co-creating and producing the soulful song.”
“Bayung Mabalacat” is the rallying song which exalts the pride of Mabalaqueños aroused by transformation and hope, the experience of resurgence of new age, leadership and confidence and the culmination of change.
“We are really thankful for Mr. Alex Castro for creating this song. It reflects how Mabalaquenos themselves can help usher in true reforms in our city,” Mayor Garbo said.
According to Castro, the song is the reflection of what people have been thinking, seeing, and talking about since this new leadership emerged.
“From their (people) stories came the theme and words of the song,” Castro added.
“Bayung Mabalacat” was rendered in Kapampangan, depicting the sentiments of Mabalaqueños’ gratefulness of the renaissance of good governance and social equality.
Castro, a native of Mabalacat, is an author, writer and historian. For years, he worked as a creative director and an advertising executive. Castro is also known for his blog site and book entitled “Views From The Pampang”.
Castro has recently led his batchmates from Mabalacat Elementary School in launching a coloring book that contains the heritage houses and historical sites found in Mabalacat town that was founded in year 1712.
