By Leonardo Micua

 

ATTENDING the luncheon tendered by the Dagupan City government in honor of the visiting officials of Iwata City, Japan led by its youthful mayor, Hiroaki Kasachi  at the CSI Stadia on August 21 brought back fond memories of an event I covered as a young journalist of the Philippines News Agency 49 years ago.

When I told fellow Punchers Eva, Cesar, Willie, and journalist Lina, who were seated with me at a table during the hosting at the Emerald Hall of CSI Stadia, that I covered the signing of the sisterhood agreement between Dagupan and Iwata City here in Dagupan on February 19, 1975, they could hardly believe I did.

I really did, and being one of the very few journalists during those days — barely three years after the proclamation of martial law — I could not have missed such an important event.

Goaded by City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo, I approached Mayor Kasachi and with the aid of an interpreter, I conveyed to him that I am among the few surviving witnesses to the signing of the historic sisterhood document between then Mayor Cipriano Manaois and their Mayor Yamauchi. The young Iwata Mayor, who must only be in his early 30s, appreciated the info and asked me through his interpreter how many Japanese came for the signing. My reply was a bus load, sir. From 20 to 30.

Mamerto Manaois, son of the late Mayor Opring and younger brother to Teddy, who served in later years as vice mayor of Dagupan, was glad that there was still one among a very few who witnessed both the original signing and now the renewal of the pact.

A mute testimony to the signing is the iconic Vicar Hotel Skyroom on Torres Bugallon Avenue, where the rich and famous of yesteryears converged on very special occasions until there came the Star Plaza Hotel just across the Pantal River, and also the CSI Stadia.

The time of the signing event was 6 p.m. and lasted till 10 p.m. on account of the midnight curfew then.

It was like a barrio fiesta at Vicar Hotel and the entire Dagupan was in a jolly mood as the host city government really prepared for the historic event. Food and drinks were aplenty and the top music band contracted to perform during that special occasion provided the entertain with country music and a few Japanese songs.

I was there upon the invitation of my late good friend, Councilor Alfredo Santa Maria. But being latecomers, we stayed at the back together with Doc Santa Maria’s barkadas or beerkadas and listened to the speeches delivered by the two mayors.

Ryan Ravanzo, son of the late Councilor Reggie Ravanzo, who was also in that gathering, told me there were photos of the event saved by the city as mementos.  I told Ryan that if the cameraman took shots of everyone in the audience, he would see me there — a lean, boyish version of me.

That sisterhood agreement gave birth to the establishment of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Park at Tondaligan Ferdinand Park, which Mayor Manaois had started to develop in 1972. He named it after then President Ferdinand Marcos, father of the incumbent PBMM and Senator Imee.

And a bit of trivia: Tondaligan was coined from the Pangasinan words ‘Tonda‘ (stop) and ‘Ligan’ (rest) by the late Greg Alcaide, former radio producer-announcer of the National Media Production Center, who Rhee Hortaleza said was from Abra but made Dagupan City (specifically  the Bliss site in Bonuan Binloc) his home and where he raised a family.

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I have a strong feeling that dismissed Mayor Alice Guo will soon be back in the Philippines following the capture of her sister, Sheila Guo, and Casandra Li Ong, who were intercepted in Indonesia and sent back here.

But who is really to blame for the escape to Malaysia of Alice Guo last July 17? Despite being on the immigration lookout bulletin (not a subject of a hold departure order), Guo managed to slip past a supposed tight guarding of Philippine airports and seaports. 

The Bureau of Immigration claims that Ms. Guo evaded normal procedures, which could mean she took backdoor or boarded a chartered plane or even her own private plane. 

We won’t really know until Alice Guo returns.  

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