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QC COUNCIL REJECTS 'CITY OF STARS' NICKNAME

Quezon City, Nov. 8, 1998 - In a curious battle that saw show business personalities pitted against one another, the Quezon City Council overturned an earlier resolution recognizing the city as the "City of Stars."

The new resolution was proposed and sponsored by singer-Councilor Anthony Castelo, who persuaded his colleagues in the City Council to overturn a resolution which it had earlier made final.

The controversial "City of Stars" local ordinance was sponsored by Councilor Dingdong Avanzado, who is a show business personality like Castelo. Actor Avanzado's proposal originally gained the full support of all the members of the City Council, with the exception of Castelo, who pointed out that the new name would violated the charter of Quezon City.

Although praised by many in the entertainment industry, the "City of Stars" resolution was widely criticized in the media and official circles.

Castelo explained that Avanzado failed to consider the other, larger, sectors of the Quezon City constituency such as government workers, religious orders, students, teachers, urban poor, ordinary employees, whose opinions were not sought and who do not belong to the entertainment industry.

Besides, Castelo said, "The Quezon City charter clearly states that the city is to be known as Quezon City and not by any other name."

He believes that adding anything to an already established name like Quezon City runs counter to the vision of the country's great leader and the city's founder, President Manuel Quezon, in whose honor the city was named after.

Castelo's own bill, which enjoys the support of QC mayor Mel Mathay, recognizes the entertainment industry's valuable contributions to the city and proposes to designate a special place of honor for the stars.