Playing with Fire
Pangasinan’s rich history
By Gonzalo Duque
LAST Thursday was the 40th day of Kuya Ado’s (the late Dr. Salvador T. Duque) passing.
Many of his friends were wondering why we did not deliver a eulogy during his wake. But in his last two nights at the LNU multi-purpose hall, we made a very brief speech, when we stood up and said, “Dinner is ready.” Smiling University of Luzon president Macky Samson praised our “short speech” and said that was “a great speech.” Panangan la e.
We, as well as his legion of friends, remember him with fondness and love.
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As we prepare to welcome the new government of incoming President Noynoy Aquino, we couldn’t help pointing out that it was largely his platform of “Pag Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap” that won him the presidency.
Did you know that it (fight vs. corruption) was also the winning battle cry of challenger Diosdado Macapagal that wrested the presidency from Carlos P. Garcia in the early 60’s?
Let’s hope Noynoy will not fail our people. A lot of expectations await him.
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After June 12, Independence Day, we shall observe Rizal’s birthday on June 19 and Dagupan City’s Chartering Day on December 20.
Rizal Day is observed hereabouts with fervor because the hero stayed here for sometime during those days he was courting Leonor Rivera. They had a haunting love affair, but the lady broke our hero’s heart when she married an Englishman. Kawawa naman ang idolo natin.
Makaraw yay Pepe awa, pare Jun?
As we pause to recollect our great past, we also remember those days when the great General Douglas “I Shall Return” MacArthur made a sentimental visit in Pangasinan and told Lakay Condring Estrella, then our governor, in 1961 where he actually landed — in Lingayen.
After landing thereat, he proceeded to Dagupan City where he was met by then community leader Pedro Balolong along Bonuan Beach, and put up his headquarters at the Home Economics building of the West Central Elementary School.
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In Pangasinan, we wish to thank Governor Spines for verbally naming us chairman of a special committee that will write the history of Pangasinan.
It was probably his way of thanking us for initiating the effort to fix the date of the province’s founding even without the imprimatur of actually researching in Spain, which was the original plan.
We welcome our new appointment from the governor, although there was no actual executive act yet. We’d be delighted, as usual, Governor, to be of help to your administration.
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Surprise, Governor-elect Jun Ebdane in Zambales continues to make good copy in Pangasinan.
It should not be surprising because his wife, the former Alma Cabanayan, is from San Nicolas, Pangasinan. Each time we got hold of a Pangasinan paper, we read about Ebdane as if he were still in the province.
It may interest you to know that he served as Dagupan City police station commander, and later as provincial commander in the early 90’s. As a police officer, he was known for his no-nonsense leadership and excellent public relations. We are impressed with his performance as a public official.
We hope to collaborate with him someday soon.
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NOTES: Ms. Emma Molina, city agriculturist, why do you continue to play dumb and blind to the outcry that you name the illegal fishpen operators in our city? Mantalaran ka ta manpapasnok lay Mayor- elect Benjie Lim. Anto ta tay wadtan a, et, iignoren moy tawag na karaklan ya ipetek iratay pikewet ditan ed ililog tayo a? Manalwar ka!
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