By Rex Catubig

 

THE news reports a shortage of condiments that are essential for cooking food and enhancing its taste. It started with the shortage of white onions. Then like domino, there is a shortage of sugar, followed by the shortage of salt, and garlic.  Without these ingredients, food will not be as flavorful, will be less appetizing.  Because they provide the soul to the food, so to speak.

There is a parallel shortage of condiments in the life of our coastal village. In our city of Dagupan, which we claim as the business hub of the north, the Bangus capital of the world, and home of distinguished leaders, there is a shortage of seasonings that could elevate life like a refined dish.

In a city that prides itself with four universities, several private and public schools, even a couple of trade schools, there is a shameful shortage: the shortage of arts and culture condiments.

The city has a proud lineage of historic cultural legacy: At the cusp of the Spanish-American occupation, Dagupan was the north terminal of the epochal Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan that opened the avenue for commerce and inter-provincial exchange. The city, prior to earning its charter, played a pivotal part in the liberation of the Philippines leading to the end of World War II, by being the site of the USAFFE headquarters under Gen Douglas Mac Arthur. This was the West Central Elementary School HE Gabaldon building. Earlier, Dagupan was home to the prominent boarding school Colegio de San Alberto Magno of the Dominican friars that provided high caliber, quality education not only for local residents but the neighboring provinces as well. Built across the river in the island barrio of Calmay, the engineering marvel that was the Franklin bridge provided passage.

Of these, the Colegio is gone forever, its massive remnants from the great flood of 1935, had been washed away by the flood of 1972. Luckily, a short portion of the Franklin Bridge remains at the river bank of Poblacion Oeste but is sorely neglected.

The Ferrocarril terminal familiarly known as PNR Train Station has survived the diggings of treasure hunting expeditions over the years but still stands in its architectural preeminence amid urban blight in Barangay Mayombo.

Fortunately, the MacArthur building has been restored but a repurposing of its function is in order.

With these and other unmapped cultural sites, structures, folkways, customs and traditions inherent to the city, Dagupan is not lacking in cultural resources—necessary for adding substance and nurturing its quintessential identity. And yet, a shortage exists. Dagupan is actually bereft of the cultural condiments essential for fostering a well-rounded character, a holistic persona.  This is due largely to the lack of cultural care, conservation, and rededication of our historic cultural legacies that could revitalize our malnourished soul.

Without casting aside the incessant brouhaha about the causes of flooding in our city aside, our leaders, educators, and civic influencers must nonetheless shed their blinkers and focus also on the cultural impoverishment that leaves our city languishing.

We must take a hard look, admit our remiss and act swiftly and decisively to abate the pervasive cultural privation.

It’s not only taking stock of the shortage but paying forward for the city’s future.

Because our future must be flavorful.

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