Gov. Espino celebrates veterans patriotism
IN fitting ceremonies aimed at immortalizing and refreshing the people’s consciousness on the heroism of Pangasinan war veterans and the historic Lingayen Gulf landings, activities were held in observance of the 64th Anniversary of Lingayen Gulf Landings and the Agew ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 (Pangasinan Veterans Day 2009) with a unique twist – a renewed focus on the province’s campaign to protect and promote Pangasinan’s environment.
On the direction of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., the provincial government left no stone unturned last week not only in honoring Pangasinan’s war veterans and commemoration of the Lingayen Landing but in creating further awareness towards environment concerns.
Governor Espino said the province is” waging another kind of war – not against foreign invaders, but against the aggressors and abusers of our beaches and in the Lingayen Gulf.”
“Kung noon ang dumaloy dito sa gulpo ay dugo ng mga nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay, basura at dumi naman ang lumulutang ngayon kaya kahapon ay inilunsad po namin ang Save the Lingayen Gulf Movement,” the Governor said.
Governor’s Dedication
The dedication of Gov. Espino to the preservation and protection of Pangasinan’s environment and to the cause of veterans was not lost to Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos.
The former President extolled the Governor for leading the people of Pangasinan in a renewed effort to wage war against filth, degradation and the unabated pollution that have damaged the historic Lingayen Gulf even as he recalled the heroism of the Filipino soldiers during World War II, fighting side by side with the Allied Forces.
In a speech during the commemoration of 64th Lingayen Gulf Landings Anniversary, at the Veterans Park here, Ramos said: “I am elated that Governor Espino has revived the massive environmental campaign which we launched in the province when I was President and when he was the police provincial director of Pangasinan.”
“Because of them (veterans) the cause of freedom was strengthened and democracy lives, such is their legacy to the nation and the world,” Ramos said on the feats of Pangasinan’s veterans.
In his speech read by former Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim, Ramos said that the environmental project called “Save the Lingayen Gulf (SLING) Movement” will protect the gulf from further degradation due to illegal fishing practices like dynamite blast fishing, use of cyanide, use of trawlers and others.
During the re-launch of the SLING movement, thousands of students and young people assisted by the provincial employees, local policemen and civic leaders, cleaned up the beaches and environs of the capital town.
The environment warriors also rolled their sleeves and took part in the clean-up drive in the gulf and its tributaries in the towns of Binmaley, Calasiao and this town. Illegal fishpens and other structures blocking the navigational lane of the rivers were also demolished.
It was in 1994 when former President Ramos declared Lingayen Gulf as environmentally critical and formed the Lingayen Gulf Coastal Area Management Commission (LGCAMC by virtue of Executive Order (EO) 171 issued on April 20, 1994.)
Lingayen Landing
The commemoration of the Lingayen Gulf Landings kicked off with the inauguration of the updated history panels of the Veterans Memorial Park located at the Capitol grounds.
Philippine Veterans Bank in partnership with the provincial government and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines made the project possible in close collaboration with Gov. Espino.
The National Historical Institute (NHI), represented by Dep. Executive Director Emelita Almosara, supervised the updating of the historical panels.
The new panels, 12 in all, contain numerous photographs and maps about the Lingayen Landing and other World War II vintage photographs mostly featuring various locations in Pangasinan such as Dagupan, San Fabian and others.
Limgas ng Kawayangan
The highlight of the commemoration was the holding of the first ever and unique Limgas na Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009. The candidates, certified granddaughters of Pangasinan war veterans, advocated for the reliving of the heroism of their grandfathers.
It was Eimee Flor Romero who made her grandfather proud, a war veteran during World War II, by winning the Limgas ya Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 in a glittering pageant night last January 5 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center.
Romero, 17 years old and a B.S. Tourism student from the University of Luzon, impressed the judges with her wit as she answered the question on how has the life of her veteran grandparent affected her as a person.
She said that her grandfather made her feel so blessed and that she was proud to be a granddaughter of a war veteran who fought gallantly in pursuit of freedom during World War II.
“And as a proud youth and a proud Pangasinense, it is my obligation to share and pass this information to all the future generations,” Romero said.
Braphine Sheen Palisoc, 17 year old and BS Nursing student of Pangasinan State University (PSU)-Bayambang was first runner-up, while Lily Chua of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, 18 year old and BS Nursing student bagged the second runner-up. Chua was also awarded the Best in Swimsuit attire.
The special award for Darling of the Press went to 18 year old, BS Legal Management student from San Beda College, Ghada Bongcawil.
The Limgas na Kawayangan ed Pangasinan 2009 is a considered a unique approach in reliving and honoring the heroism of the war veterans.
Romero was crowned by Pangasinan’s first lady Prescilla I. Espino, Dr. Maricris Realubin Ubalde, Pangasinan Ms. Liberation 1995; and Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez at the Capitol Plaza on January 9.
The observance of Pangasinan Veterans’ Day and the anniversary of Lingayen Gulf landings celebrated every 9th of January were adopted by virtue of the provincial board’s resolution authored by Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas.
Youth Camp for Environment
Gov. Espino also led other government officials in welcoming hundreds of Pangasinan youth who trooped to the Lingayen Capitol Beach Front for a three-day interactive youth camp to promote camaraderie and environmental awareness. The students engaged in fun-filled and learning activities that included bonfire, parlor games, team building and clean-up drive. A special audio visual presentation on Lingayen Gulf Tourism and Environmental Advocacy was shown them to heighten their consciousness on the significant history of Pangasinan and the province’s environmental concerns.
The campers joined the chiefs of offices and employees of the provincial government in the clean-up drive to revive the Sagip Lingayen Gulf (SLING) movement. The movement, a brainchild of the Governor, was launched in 1995 during his term as the PNP provincial director of Pangasinan.
Gov. Espino has included rivers that start in Manat, Binmaley up to Palaris in Lingayen, in addition to the Lingayen beachfront, to lend more meaning to the theme “Save Lingayen Gulf Save Our Rivers A Lasting Tribute to Environment in Honor of Our War Heroes.” –LM
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