An empty legacy
Leonardo J. Galvez
14 Dec 2012
THE current administration has altered the history of Dagupan by dumping the city’s old corporate seal in favor of a new one. It erased the memory of the likes of the Fernandezes, Guadizes, Reynas, Siapnos and other old pillars who have nurtured the city from its infancy.
The 68-year old seal is history by itself. It chronicles the growth of the city from its infancy as Pangasinan’s premier town to what it is now. To claim that the old one is no longer responsive to the current realities is a lame excuse. It’s not the non-appearance of “bangus” in the old seal as the main reason for the change but to perpetuate the legacy of the present administration.
In Los Angeles, proponents who recommended a “minute” alteration of the city’s historic seal were strongly opposed — though a compromise was agreed upon — by Pangasinenses. Corporate seal is considered a prized possession that is beyond the commerce of man.
The National Historical Commission erred for not conducting public hearings before it issued a certificate of registration. It failed to feel the public pulse before it stamped its approval. Launching a corporate design contest is not a criterion to justify changing of the old seal.
Who could stop the city from converting Sitio Aling into a barangay in honor of one of the most unpopular, popular “honorable” councilors who abandoned Vice-Mayor Belen Tan Fernandez and aligned themselves to the incumbent?
The city leadership opted to change the old one instead of making a minor change by inserting a replica of a fish. It’s as simple as that. The historic corporate seal is not an artificial artifact that could be deposed of anytime. If the late Archbishop Mariano A Madriaga — whose artistic talent is shown by the religious seals he was commissioned to make — were alive, he should have turned the tables against this city administration. This religious icon will not mince words to correct what he perceived to be downright wrong.
A corruption of Patrick Henry’s immortalized speech will sound like this, “How many crimes have they (Bangus) committed?”
It’s an empty legacy in the making.
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