Serendipity and Destiny
By Rex Catubig
IN 1997, a neophyte in the political arena, a rookie Councilor, was appointed as the Chairperson of Dagupan City’s 50th Golden Jubilee as a charter City. Twenty years hence, as the city’s history unfolded, she had grown into the role of City Mayor concurrent with Dagupan’s celebration of its 70th Platinum Jubilee. Five years, thereafter, after a setback in her political career, she made an astonishing comeback and in a landslide victory, returned triumphantly as Mayor in time for the commemoration of the city’s 75th Diamond Jubilee.
Gold, Platinum, Diamond. These are three iconic elements that mark Dagupan’s epochal progress. Coincidentally, these same elements likewise exemplify and embody the sterling character of the City Mayor.
Like Gold, she is resilient and has shown she could be hammered or molded without cracking or breaking. Platinum is known as lustrous and the “noble metal”, being resistant to tarnishing and corrosion. In much the same way, the City Mayor is unblemished by corruption and unsullied by deceit.
On the other hand, Diamond is a brilliant crystal that is formed when carbon is subjected to extreme heat and pressure deep within the earth. It is strong and almost indestructible despite its appearance of exquisite beauty. And it is precious.
For her part, the Mayor has proven time and again how tough she is under pressure. Yet beneath the hard, dense exterior is a tender compassionate heart that radiates love for the children and the city. She epitomizes a rare jewel.
Serendipity brought the Mayor to the starting line of her unprecedented journey towards governance and public service. Destiny catapulted her to the pinnacle of her career, earning the distinction of breaking the barrier as the first woman to be elected as top City Executive. And subsequently, she is gifted with the honor of being the only tri-jubilee Mayor of the City of her dreams—the Diamond City of the North.
On June 19th, the 75th Diamond Jubilee year-long celebration will have its culmination in the Agew na Dagupan Gala Awards night where outstanding Dagupeños will be honored for their signal achievements. It will also be an occasion for the long-overdue recognition of the pioneering and long-lasting establishments and business enterprises that have been the partners of the city in its long steady road to progress.
On that night, the forces of greatness that propelled its rise and validated its major stature, will converge and coalesce to pay homage to the invulnerable people and indestructible city that they helped shape into the Diamond that it is today.
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