Bibingkan latik and our heroes

THE celebration of Pangasinan Day appears to be evolving into something more meaningful – and enjoyable – for Pangasinenses.

The addition this year of shared-snacks of the province’s native delicacies highlights a facet of our culture that we can and should be proud of. It reflects our agricultural produce and the hard-working hands that are required to prepare these rice cakes and other delightful sweets. It was no lavish banquets that are typical of Philippine fiestas, but the feast could not have been made more evocative, especially in light of the food and financial crisis that is gripping the world.

This small step is a major move forward because it sets an example for future celebrations. The proposal of Mayor Julier Resuello of San Carlos City, which has been hosting the celebration for the last 19 years, that the festival be raffled off to a different host town or city every year should be considered. It could even be a bidding ala-Olympics style. Either way, it is high time that Pangasinan Day be actually celebrated all across the province.

Several of the province’s towns and all four cities (Dagupan, Urdaneta, Alaminos and San Carlos) have their own fiestas that are usually held with much pomp and distinction. So why not one for celebrating everything Pangasinan.

This, of course, should not take away the original grounds for which November 13 was made a special day for the province – which is to commemorate the achievements of one of Pangasinan’s most important sons: the late Speaker Eugenio Perez, the first speaker of the House of Representatives.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. has already issued an ordinance renaming the day as Pangasinan Heroes Day. It is now just a matter of setting up a mechanism for recognizing the province’s small and big heroes who deserve recognition for their contributions that are just as important as those made by honorable Perez.

When times are particularly tough, just as they are now (it is deeply disturbing to hear that there has been an average of more than one suicide case per month in the province prompted by not just personal but financial difficulties), we need heroes who not only will serve as role models and inspiration to Pangasinenses but keep our faith in the Pangasinan spirit.

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