Think about it
Dagupan of our ancestors
By Jun Velasco
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. – Mark 10:43-44
TWO events recently caught Dagupeños eyes – and souls, hopefully.
The 151st birthday of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, which we observed without fanfare, and the 65th founding day of our beloved Dagupan City.
In case you’ve forgotten, Rizal visited Dagupan in those years he was with the love of his youthful life, his first cousin Leonor Rivera, a Pangasinense because Camiling was then a barrio of Bayambang town. Our historian Resty Basa told us the young sweethearts met several times in a Chinese sitio in Lingayen.
Rizal’s fondness of Pangasinan – and, for that matter, Dagupan – could be the reason why his books had characters with familiar Dagupan names such as Juan Crisostomo and others. It’s fitting then that two poblacion streets were named after him and his beloved Leonor.
It was touching to see the city’s two leaders – Mayor Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez — at the so-called Solidarity Walk. It was to signal a coming to reality of a re-unification move that’s being bannered by friends and kin with the city’s best interest at heart.
We thought our local media should help seal that idealized unity instead of what fellow veteran Dagupeño and colleague Rhee Fer Hortaleza criticized as sowing divisiveness that would serve no one.
The brief rain that threatened the historic walk must have been sent by God to cool the temper of some hot heads.
It should be a blessing.
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A big night for Pangasinan culture. Local dame of culture, our late friend Dr. Perla Samson Nelmida (sorry for our failure to join the affair) must be wearing her inimitable smile in her heavenly mansion with these efforts to revivify Pangasinan culture, especially Pangasinan writing.
Thanks to a never-say-die group led by Sonny Villafania, Commissioner Mary Rose Flores who made that night “Glimpses on Pangasinan Life and Culture Itanduro so Pangasinan Tribute to Dr. Perla Samson Nelmida” held on Rizal’s birthday at the Chica Rue Restaurant beside the Malacañang ground most meaningful.
A UP Diliman education graduate, Perla Nelmida – wife of our fraternity brod Salvamar Nelmida – was a Fulbright Scholar who made an all-straight A in Liquistics in 1969.
Present at the Tribute were all devotees of Pangasinan culture, among them, ASNA awardees Sonny V and Joe Quinto, Art Connoisseur Norma Crisologo Llongoren, Dr. Guido Tiong, book author Rosa Magno, UP President Alfredo Pascual’s wife, the former Carmen Martinez, Dr. Florangel Braid, Club Pangasinense’s Adonis Samson, Dr. Rod Javier, youth leader Clemente Arboleda, Mayor Cel Navarro’s wife Dr. Elizabeth, our old friend Mitos S. Nicdao and may others who filled the restaurant to the brim.
Dr. Marot Flores thanked the participants and guests, while Sister Rachel Sapigao said “my mother would never have been more elated.”
Poetry reading, songs and cultural dances by the provincial government cultural group, Caboloan Dance Troupe and Tambago Cultural Group enlivened the evening.
Ditto with the exquisite piano rendition by world-acclaimed young pianist Brian, son of Engr. Raul and Rachel Sapigao.
It was a night to remember.
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NOTES: Mayor Navarro’s kin and friend Prof. Pepe de Vera sent us a postcard from Hanoi where he and Pag-ibig executive Jaime Miralles made an observation tour of Vietnam’s giant agri business strides last week. He asked if his kin Wilson de Vera is running for mayor in Calasiao town….. Is it true that Congresswoman Gina de Venecia is running for vice governor under Nani Braganza?
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