Punchline
“Wild” and wise
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
ANOTHER bright icon of Dagupan City passed away while the city was celebrating Bangus Festival.
A dear friend and a distinguished gentleman, Salvador “Ado” Duque, eldest of the illustrious Duque siblings finally succumbed to a lingering illness.
Since he retired from the US Air Force in 1983 as a medical officer with the rank of a Lt. Colonel, Ado certainly did not waste time to make his presence felt and his views heard in Pangasinan. But he also knew when to listen…and yes, when not to.
I recall seeing Ado seething with frustration and anger while keeping his peace in the first 100 days (in the aftermath of the July 16, 1990 earthquake). But after what he thought was enough grace period given the Dagupan City authorities to act on the reconstruction of our devastated city, and noting the snail pace with which it was proceeding, he came out with guns blazing. In our October 28, 1990 issue, Ado did not mince words and lambasted the city government for failing to come out with specific plans for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of what he referred as the “economic streets” of the city.
It had to be Ado to point out that the city’s damaged main streets only needed 28 days to cement them and make the business district accessible.
His basic formula for reconstruction was basic in economic development. Open the roads, allow people to commute through the business district, the rest will follow. Without the access, indeed, any attempt at rehabilitation would be hampered. So while affected businessmen twiddled their thumbs simply waiting for updates on reconstruction, Ado pointed out the correct priority.
It was the first time I witnessed Ado’s discipline in rational thinking.
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Many can attest to Ado’s voice always hitting 5 decibels higher than anyone who pitched in to restore and reconstruct Dagupan City from the rubbles in the aftermath of the 1990 earthquake. His passion was infectious.
When the Duque’s matriarch, Florencia Tiongson-Duque passed away on December 3, 1990, Ado, as chairman of the newly organized Dagupan City Civilian Reconstruction Fund Foundation (DCCRDFF), convinced his family to lend their mother’s death to the cause of the early reconstruction of the city. In the published obit, the family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations to DCCRF for the reconstruction of the city were requested. If that was not patriotism at its best, I don’t what is.
Then as work for the MDCCRF (the word Metro was appended) progressed, it was not unusual for Ado to make his listeners gape in awe in reaction to his “wild” propositions. He was one who dared to do what was unthinkable, and he succeeded. Who would have thought that suing a government agency for failing to contribute to the early recovery of the city was the best approach to compel cooperation? Nobody but Ado. To his credit, a number of government agencies responded positively to Ado’s unusual “threat” (or promise?). “Gawin na natin baka serious silang mademanda tayo,” was one reaction I heard from a ranking government official who received one of the ‘demand letters’ from the foundation.
So if you walk along or pass by to the city’s business district and the Tondaligan Park, remember to say a prayer for Ado Duque, the man who had the passion and the guts to push and pull national and local government to make Dagupan City into what it is today.
He was “wild” and wise! The PUNCH doffs its hat to the man.
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SHADES OF BLACK. If I could vote in many places in the province, I would be comfortable shading the egg-shaped button beside the names of the achievers in my list, black – re-electionists 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas, Sta. Barbara Mayor Rey Velasco, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez.
I would also shade the buttons numbers assigned to the achiever-wannabes personally known to me – Sison’s Mayor Kimi Cojuangco for 5th District representative, broadcast Maki Pulido for the 1st District, and Gina de Venecia for the 4th District.
I have had differences with some policies of Guv Spines, but I have to give it to the guy, he’s done a lot in so short a time. I would also love to see former Vice Guv Oscar Lambino retake his seat as presiding officer in Sanggunian Panlalawigan.
But I can’t vote just anywhere. Shucks.
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