Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos leads in honoring Mark John Lexer Galedo of Barangay Plainview during the city’s Morning Program held at the Executive Building.

Mark, who recently won a silver and two bronze medals in the 26th Southeast Asian Games held last November in Jakarta and Indonesia, is a member of the Mandaluyong Cycling Club headed by Renato Castillo

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos officiates the induction of the officers of the Mandaluyong Public Health Nurses Association headed by Lord Sherman Francisco in fitting rites held at The Legend Villas-Pioneer, Mandaluyong City.

The national public health nurses association is an associate member-league of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the umbrella league of both elective and appointive local officials nationwide which Mayor Abalos headed in 2008 to 2010. Also in photo is Council Committee on Health Chairman Alex Sta. Maria. Mandaluyong First Lady Menchie Abalos is the association’s adviser.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos is the resource speaker on local laws and structure during the Social Media vs. Child Abuse Forum held at the Astoria Plaza Hotel, Pasig City. The event, conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children and the Para Sa Mga Bata Citizens Network Inc. in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Council for Children’s Television and the Philippine National Police, highlighted the powerful role of citizens in advocating for and educating the public in protecting the children online and offline.

Mayor Abalos also shared the city’s good practices being an awardee of the 2011 Presidential Award for Best Child Friendly City of the Philippines (Highly Urbanized City Category).

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, assisted by the city council and barangay officials, leads the ceremonial lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree during the program held at the city hall grounds for the Paskuhan sa Tiger City, an annual event initiated by Mayor Abalos signaling the start of the 47-day Christmas celebration in the city.

Other highlights of this event are the opening of more than 313 booths selling assorted items and food stalls, the lights display around the city hall complex and distribution of Pamaskong Handog to indigent families and wheelchairs to persons with disability.

There are also nightly shows featuring local talents and invited guests, mascots, kiddie rides, exhibition of lanterns made from recycled materials, and Santa Clauses who are always available for a souvenir shot.

Although it constantly bears the stigma of being a place for prisoners and the mentally ill, Mandaluyong City can now claim as the best place for children after recently bagging the Presidential Award for the most child-friendly city in the country.

Mandaluyong bested other cities that had won in the regional competitions under the highly urbanized city category such as Baguio, Olongapo, Bacolod and Cebu.