By Rex Catubig

 

ViICTORIO Edades, the illustrious son of Dagupan, is without a doubt, the primus inter pares among the city’s brightest sons. But his memory precariously dangles on the corroding recall of people in the city he lived in, and in the fading fragile minds of his diminishing progeny.

In fact, the only surviving member of the 3rd generation Edades, Cesario, 76, who has a smattering recollection of Laki Toriong, is himself of dwindling health with his eyes ravaged by diabetes. I was lucky to have a conversation with him. Sadly, he passed on in August this year, bringing with him the last vestiges of the great Dagupeno.

Born December 23, 1895 in barangay Bolosan, Prof Edades shares the fate of biblical prophets who, ironically, are not acknowledged in their hometown. He might as well be a stranger, save for the bits and pieces of recollection from Cesario.

Grandson Cesario is the son of Urbano, whose father Felino is a brother of Victorio. Cesario, better known as Kap Pinoy, was the lone surviving member of the brood of six who had known Laki Toriong up close and personal.

Two of Cesario’s brothers were adopted by Laki Toriong and lived with him in Manila: Jaime the second, and Armando, the third, of the siblings. Jaime’s wife Jesusa became Edades’ housecook. All three grandchildren who had close association with their Laki are gone.

From the flimsy recollections of Kap Cesario, (he was a former Punong Barangay of Bolosan), he related that Laki Toriong would come to visit periodically and stay in his nephew Urbano’s family house. He would stay for a couple of days, then go back to Manila. The longest he stayed was a month.

While in Dagupan, he enjoyed walking to his fishpond which was located close to the edge of the railroad tracks. He bonded with family members and indulged in small talk with them. He never drank, but he was a chimney when he smoked his beloved tobacco.

Jesusa, (deceased) who lived with the Master’s family and cooked for them, was asked in a commemorative program where she guested whether she was ever asked by the Master to pose for a painting. Reminiscing about the time, she good-naturedly replied, that indeed, yes, but Prof Edades teasingly told her it would be in the nude! Which reveals that the Master was not bereft of a sense of humor.

A marker to honor the City’s National Artist on his 100th birth anniversary was erected at a corner of Bolosan road close to where the Edades family home was located. It was installed in 1995 during the term of Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr upon the initiative of Councilor George Castillo who was the Chairman of Tourism and Culture.

One would easily miss the marker as the site is now the holding area of tricycles waiting for passengers. Its significance is lost on the standby drivers whose attention span is narrowed on the fare they have collected so far for the day. Here, arts and culture are again at loggerheads with commerce and daily survival.

It is unfortunate that the importance of arts and culture as the quintessence of life has not really touched the soul of the community where once this giant of an artist who shook the foundation of art in the country sought respite and relaxed in like an ordinary village folk.

It behooves us as heirs to his legacy to make amends and initiate ways by which we can properly pay homage to him for the signal honor he bestowed on our city. On a personal note, scion Joseph Bautista Edades has intimated his hope that if only one of the descendants in the present or next generation could carry on the legacy of their great-grandfather. “Maybe, even just by becoming an architect”, he opined.

In more ways than one, we are indebted to the Master. For giving a face to our city that bore him and making us proud of his distinction.  Thus, to institute ways by which our people can identify with the story and lessons of his life, is a gesture he most deserves, and which we owe and ought to share to the next generations.

P.S. During the recent celebration of his birth anniversary, held at the marker, Mayor Belen Fernandez expressed the plan to locate a more appropriate place for the marker where his statue could be erected.