Think about it
Interesting tasks for PHCC
By Jun Velasco
WHEN we had a chat at the late Dr. Ado Duque’s home two years back, former Governor and Social Welfare Administrator Nancy Q. Sison, widow of former Justice Porfiro V. Sison, and mother of Seasons columnist Mita Sison Duque, exuded nostalgia in her heart.
She was always in love with public service. Wherever she went, venerable Nancy touched lives, especially the poor. And she commanded presence all the time. We’d feel embarrassed whenever she’d address us cumpadre, because we stood as co-sponsors in l969 during the baptism of Kapitan Jake Reyes’ first-born son, Leo, in which the other ninongs were then neophyte Congressman Joe de Venecia, the late Mayor Opring Manaois, Vice Mayor Manding Fernandez, Atty. Greg Gaerlan and others. She even told then Vice Gov. Porfy that we were cumpadres, and that signaled the Pangasinan Demosthenes to address us in a huge voice, “cumpadre Jun” everywhere.
Her passing creates another void in public service in the province. Many surely will cry because they will miss her, remembering her all-loving brand of public service. May she rest in peace in God’s loving arms eternally.
* * *
We recall today the historic Lingayen landing which took place in l945. Because of the elaborate preparations by the provincial government on its yearly re-enactment, does that mean its concurrence to the theory that General MacArthur and the liberators landed in Lingayen and not in Dagupan City or San Fabian?
That event, we love to say, underscores Philippine-American friendship, although reservations have been expressed because of the manner the liberators raided the place killing thousands of innocent Filipinos.
We thought it best for the Duque commission to review what really happened and give credit where it is due and unmask the scoundrels.
With the PHCC around, the province’s history should come back to life with a vengeance and make Pangasinan a major tourist attraction, Spines’ dream.
Who can beat the tourism power of the following:
Bayambang was the seat of government during the Philippine Republic days in l899.
The national anthem was composed in the barrio, now, town of Bautista.
Andres Malong and Juan dela Cruz were the precursors of revolutionary heores Rizal, Bonifacio and Aguinaldo.
Binalatongan was the first capital of Pangasinan, not Lingayen or Dagupan.
Western Pangasinan was the seat of Lemuria, home of the faith healers.
Rizal and Leonor Rivera had their trysts in Dagupan, Lingayen and Bayambang.
Charles Kipping and Leonor Rivera were married in the Catholic Church of Dagupan.
The Tour of Luzon cycling classic was founded in Pangasinan.
Dr. Pedro Orata, founder of the Philippine barrio high schools, was a native of Urdaneta.
And many more.
There you are, Gonz, a gigantic job rests on your shoulders. If you do your job well, you too will be enshrined in Pangasinan’s history as its Herodutos.
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