Playing with Fire
Pista’y Dayat beginnings recalled
By Gonzalo Duque
IT is with utmost humility that we recall the beginnings of Pista’y Dayat in our province.
Our father, the late former Gov. Francisco “Paco” Duque Jr., was its founder when he was governor. This was authenticated by local historian Restituto Basa, who also served as erpat’s information officer at the Capitol.
At the time, then Mayor Liberato Ll. Reyna Sr., picked up the idea and started the picturesque Dagupan celebration.
As we go to press, the province was in the midst of this year’s celebration, with Gov. Amado Espino Jr. on top of the celebration.
In the morning we were scheduled to present to Gov. Spines the much awaited—and rigorously worked on—book, Pangasinan’s History—in which we had a hard time doing as chairman of the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission. Thank you, Guv’ Spines for our appointment.
It was during Spines’ 2nd term as governor that we began to work on the book. Natapos din after a most challenging and exhaustive 5 years!
Ang tagal? Ano ba kayo? Mahirap ata gawin yan!
By the way, as chair of the historical commission, we had a tough time fixing the day and year of our province’s foundation day.
The idea of fixing the founding date of the province started in this column, when after downing a case of beer with neighbor columnist Jun Velasco, we cited the need to search using a historical method the ACTUAL year and day of the province’s foundation date.
There was a time we observed Pangasinan Day on the birthday of then former Speaker Eugenio Perez Sr., which was probably used when he was the highest elected Pangasinan official.
But then in later years we had FVR and GMA, and so the need, we felt, to really found a foundation date. Guv’nor Spines picked up the idea, and so we went to work, rigorous work.
The rest is history.
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To his credit, Spines was Pangasinan culture-oriented. He had the Sison Auditorium fully renovated, with no less than FVR cutting the ribbon. Then we had a series of cultural presentations, songs, dances, arts and musical contests, and we have the annual ASNA Awards for outstanding Pangasinenses.
Under Spines’ leadership, Capitol employees got salary raises and high morale.
And by the way, the history book was to be included in the education curriculum in Pangasinan schools to educate our children on our history.
With us to present the book at the Capitol, it was impossible for us to join the Dagupan City folk led by Mayor Belen Fernandez at a multi sectorial meets at our Lyceum Northwestern campus with Secretary Mar Roxas guest of honor.
So, sorry, we could not put our one body in two places. We wish the Mar visit though, great success. We most hopefully wish brod Cesar, a close friend of Mar, would be able to make it.
You see, our LNU is like Hyde’s Park where everyone is welcome to speak out his mind, advocacies and what not. Yes, parang Freedom Park!
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A concerned citizen called up to say that this column was perfectly right when we called on the DPWH to coordinate with other government agencies like the Dagupan Waterworks District to prevent infra damages.
They were worried by the effects of uncoordinated government work.
By the way, the District will hold a summit for stakeholders on April 22 for proactive preparations in our modernization program. We assure everyone of DCWD’s full and wholehearted service to the public.
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