Make April 19, 1611 Pangasinan’s founding date
Eduardo Pontaoe
6 Dec 2007
The founding of Pangasinan, is not only becoming an interest for celebration on its 400th year anniversary, but a cause celèbre, that is affecting thousands of employees of the Provincial Government in receiving their anniversary bonuses.
It’s a bonus that couldn’t be disregarded at P3000 a pop. An amount that will put enough chicken and all the veggies on the table.
But, Budget Officer Hilaria Claveria opined that the bonuses cannot be appropriated, because of the uncertainty when Pangasinan was founded. And she even intimated the only option – is to go to Spain for verification.
This is what I can say, if they are looking for the month and day of founding, there’s nothing on record that could be found. Even extensive research and the only thing verifiable is the year 1611.That’s a fact.
If I were to resolve this problem, I suggest that it would be on April 19, in honor of Juan de Silva, the Governor General at that time . . . who on his decree ordained Pangasinan as a Spanish colonial province . . . on the day of his death on April 19, 1616.
It is surprising why such minor detail is holding those poor employees hostage. Is it possible the founding of Pangasinan coincided with Benavides when he broke ground to establish UST on April 28, 1611?
Just a hunch! Don’t get excited.
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