Playing with Fire
A legacy
By Gonzalo Duque
THE year — 2010, that’s about to go — should be the most meaningful to this columnist.
No, no beautiful girl landed in out heart this year. Tapos na tayo diyan ha with our beloved Ruth who has stood by us for how many years now.
More honors for LNU and our great feats at PRISSAA?
Many more.
But if you ask us, nothing beats this humble thing we did for the province, its acquiring its founding date and eventually, with everybody’s help, the creation of a Pangasinan Historical Commission.
Salamat, Apo Gobernador Amado Espino, Spines for short. For it was the gov, our cumpadre, friend, and co-worker who made things possible for us to make a dent in our beloved probinsiya.
As the sages would say, it’s not material wealth that makes us a person of consequence, or of joy, or of anything that makes us more than our physical self. It’s in something we leave for the next generation.
You are correct there, Ashok, it’s like a spiritual experience.
By the time this issue is out, the special committee created by the governor to establish the Pangasinan Historical Commission would have been a done deal.
The formal act was scheduled two days earlier, last Friday.
Looking back, the very first time the idea seized us was when we raised a little question that then bugged us no end, “why are we celebrating Pangasinan Day on Speaker Eugenio Perez birthday?
No, we have nothing against the man. He was a family friend, erpat’s mentor in the Liberal Party, political ally. But by gum, we thought, there are other bigger persons in Pangasinan whose birthdays should be observed in a similar or bigger way.
There’s FVR, GMA … We tossed the subject to fellow columnist Jun Velasco who instantly suggested a “search” idea — go over the thick pages of Pangasinan history to locate the exact date of its discovery, Once found, it should be marked Pangasinan Day, right? Brilliant, and so went to work.
From a round or two of light San Mig (ad intended), we nailed the idea, We formed a committee of historians the likes of Belle Arcinue, Resty Basa, scholars, journalists, government officials who have interest on the province’s past, other leaders.
The idea was picked up by the governor who asked Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan to act on our idea. The ball rolled.
Sessions were held, exciting, mostly heated sessions because we had to be accurate, careful, as the job would be for posterity. A trip to Spain was planned. But austerity measures killed the idea. Ah, yes, because the internet has discouraged it.
Our orig partner, Board Member Alfie Bince never left us, he was always there, and good thing, a new lawyer in the provincial board, Mojamito Libunao has joined the group. Ditto with live wire, Vocal Ranjit Shahani.
The history body is for keeps, and we thank our publisher Ermin Garcia ho had proposed the creation of a permanent historical body patterned after the Philippine Historical Institute.
As empowered by the members of the PHC, the body has the following functions: declare historical sites, document historical sites, recommend the establishment of plazas and museums, preserve historical buildings, recommend the integration of Pangasinan’s history in the curriculum and civics, and others.
The PHC will be run and managed by a board of trustees under the supervision of a day-t0-day executive director.
Of course, the governor will provide the commission an office.
We’re going somewhere ha, fellas? This, to us, is a priceless gift to our province mates.
Merry Christmas!
* * *
Thank you, ABS – CBN for choosing our LNU as venue of your talent auditions for applicants in North and Central Luzon.
It’s for its popular program, “Filipino Got Talent,” with presidential sister Kris as director.
Thank you.
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