By Rex Catubig

IT was like high tide, as if the rivers and tributaries had overflowed and flooded the city. The ginormous crowd was like shoals of fish that were washed ashore and swarmed all over the downtown loop.

The parade crowd and spectators for the city’s 75^th Diamond Jubilee kickstart was a massive storm surge of festive Dagupenos.  And had not the elections been over for some time, the huge turnout could have conjured a victory celebration. A clear comeuppance for the triumphant comeback of the downtrodden mayor.

For a couple of hours, the menace of the dangling Damocles’ sword lost its threat and the obdurate seven lost its magic. The venom and enmity that litter the city were swept under the tide of jubilation.

Dagupeños celebrating their 75th founding year anniversary. (Dagupan CIO News)

And like the miracle of Christmas, love suffused the air. At no other time had the city overflowed with semaphores of love. People were tossing flying kisses, striking fist bumps and high fives. And the love sign was a victory of variations: fingers were configured into thumb hearts, hands into palm hearts, arms arched into big hearts, or raised as overhead hearts.

Valentine’s was never like this. But then again, it is Christmas time.

Yet behind the gaiety, there is a pinch of hurt in the heart. For there remains the gnawing hostility and indifference from wounded hearts. What does it take to shed off the scab of discord and bandage it with love? How does one nurture the spirit of compromise and assuage vengeful sting?

There is nothing in our political history that corroborates antagonism. In past and recent memory, political stand was never worn as a badge of arrogance. And in no way did it preclude the call of service.

Have the hearts of our elected officials gone jaded after 75 years?

What is actually being fought for? Conviction or self-indulgence? Has the heart ceased to beat for the people? Has the code of honor and self-sacrifice now deleted in the political laptop?

Maybe we should listen beneath the din of our biases, and hear the plaintive cry of the heart—so that we can understand the call of conscience.

To paraphrase the battle cry of a song

“Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of earnest men?

It is the music of the people who desire not to dream in vain”.

The 75 years that led to being a Diamond jewel of a city were born of righteous pride, honor, integrity, and self-sacrifice. Its founding 75 years ago was predicated on a dream. That with good deeds and noble aspirations, our city would inevitably shine bright.  How could one crush that dream and blaspheme it by frivolous whim and caprice?

In the first Christmas, Three Wise Men travelled from afar, followed the star on the east, to pay obeisance and bestow gifts of honor to the new-born Child.  Would the unflinching seven, take the extra mile, recognize the palpable sign, and in the spirit of humble Christmas give the gift of sympathy and acquiescence to our old beloved city?

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