436th PANGASINAN DAY

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. leads the signing of he memorandum of agreement with the participating colleges and universities in Pangasinan during the celebration of Agew na Pangasinan. (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

 

LINGAYEN— The launching of the Center for Pangasinan Studies (CPS) highlighted this year’s celebration of the Agew na Pangasinan on April 5, 2016.

The CPS, established by the provincial government with the technical assistance from the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Pangasinan Historical and Cultural Commission (PHCC), is supported by private colleges and universities in the province, will serve as a repository of documents, researches, artifacts, printed materials, and media materials on Pangasinan.

According to Governor Amado Espino Jr., the CPS will not only undertake research to render an extensive and accurate recording of Pangasinan history, culture, and heritage, and but will conduct research and relevant studies in support to various development programs and governance initiatives in Pangasinan.

During the commemorative program of the 436th Agew na Pangasinan held at the Sison Auditorium, representatives of the provincial government, UP, PHCC, and Colegio de Dagupan, Lyceum Northwestern University, University of Luzon, University of Pangasinan, and Virgen Milagros University Foundation, signed the memorandum of agreement for the CPS project.

UP President Alfredo Pascual, represented by UP Vice President Prospero De Vera, as guest speaker, hailed the efforts of the provincial government to remind its people of its rich history and culture and pledged the national state university’s full support to the CPS, particularly through their professors with roots in Pangasinan.

“The promotion and preservation of Pangasinan’s history and culture is paramount in maintaining its distinctive place in the society,” he said as he cited Pangasinan’s treasures including its historical places, natural resources, and luminaries including their own professors.

The CPS is located at the Bengson-Yuson House, a historical ancestral house, having served as the convent of the Dominican Order in the 18th century. It was donated by the family to the provincial government in 2012 to support the provincial government’s efforts in preserving the province’s historical and cultural heritage.

It has undergone restoration, aided by the technical assistance of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

It now houses the CPS, the PHCC, the extension office of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs, and as a museum and art exhibit venue.

Meanwhile, Mr. Espino, encouraging Pangasinenses to continue loving and promoting the Pangasinan culture, history, language, and ideology, cited the provincial government’s initiatives for the preservation and promotion of the local culture, i.e., the formulation of Pangasinan orthography, the conduct of the Kurit Panlunggaring literary writing contest, the research and re-writing of Pangasinan history, the ongoing effort to integrate Pangasinan study in the school curriculum, the staging of Balitok A Tawir (culture and arts festival), and the launch of the Pangasinan Hymn titled “Luyag Ko Tan Yaman” and the “I love Pangasinan” campaign in 2011.

“This is the essence of Agew na Pangasinan: for us to know and be constantly aware of our historical and cultural roots; to take pride in our identity as native sons and daughters of Pangasinan; to take pride in, and always be ready to stand up for, our province; to practice the habit of always doing our best, as we continually carry the torch of excellence in the name of our beloved Pangasinan,” he remarked.

Other events held during the Pangasinan Day observance were the presentation of Pangasinan Orthography and Pangasinan Pinablin Dalin Teacher’s Guide, Kurit Panlunggaring Awarding Ceremony, the launch of “Pangasinan ed Pusok” Solo Art Exhibition by Romeo C. Mananquil, Pangasinan folk dance competition, and Pangasinan Cultural Night and Grand Ball.

Winners of the latest Kurit Panlunggaring Pangasinan literary contest, arranged from first to third places, were Alvin Garcia, Liera Aguinaldo, and John Patrick Manangan (poetry writing- youth division); Angela Kate Estrada, Denson Padlan, and Jireh Ganggangan (essay writing- youth division); Mark Anthony Austria, Alma Nepascua, and Gerald Pagodpod (poetry writing- adult division); Pagodpod, Dionisia Fernandez, and Alex Romeo Fernandez (children’s story writing- adult division); Alex Romeo Fernandez, Rogelio De Guzman, and Dionisia Fernandez (short story writing- adult division).

Alex Romeo Fernandez was also awarded the Hall of Fame award for short story writing category.

The Mananquil Art Exhibit, featuring several oil paintings inspired by Pangasinan’s landscape and culture, including his Philippine currency design series, will run until May 1 also at the Bengson Yuson House.

His oil paintings displayed on the exhibit include: Pangasinan ed Pusok, Sa Ating Paglaya, Beach Family, Banduria Belle, Breakfast in Beach, Bolinao Falls, Kabwasan ed Baryo, Abandoned Hut, Sa Aking Pag-iisa, Panangogto, Hiway David 2008, Orasyon and Innocence; and Phil. Currency designs all approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) – tamaraw, birth of the P5, birth of the P1000, 1st original 1 piso design, original 10 sentimo design and 1st generation reproduction of the original 5 sentimo obverse design. (Johanne Macob)

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