Who U? Getting to know Edades on his birthday
By Rex Catubig
VICTORIO Edades as an illustrious son of Dagupan may be the primus inter pares among the city’s brightest sons. But his memory precariously dangles on the corroding recall of people in the city he lived in, and in the fading fragile minds of those related to him. In fact, the only surviving member of the 3rd generation Edades, Cesario, 76, who has a smattering recollection of Laki Toriong, is himself of dwindling health with his eyes ravaged by diabetes.
Born December 23, 1895 in Barangay Bolosan, Prof Edades shares the fate of biblical prophets who are not acknowledged in their hometown. He might as well be a stranger, save for the bits and pieces of recollection from Cesario.
Grandson Cesario is the son of Urbano, whose father Felino is a brother of Victorio. Sadly, Cesario is the lone surviving member of the brood of six who had known Laki Toriong up close and personal.
Two of Cesario’s brothers were adopted by Laki Toriong and lived with him in Manila: Jaime the second, and Armando, the third, of the siblings. Jaime’s wife Jesusa became Edades’ housecook. All three are gone.
From the flimsy recollections of Kap Cesario, (he was a former Punong Barangay), he relates that Laki Toriong would come to visit periodically and stay in nephew Urbano’s family house. He would stay for a couple of days and go back to Manila. The longest he stayed was a month.
While in Dagupan, he enjoyed walking to his fishpond which was located close to the edge of the railroad tracks. He bonded with family members and indulged in small talk with them. He never drank, but he was a chimney when it came to his beloved tobacco.
Jesusa, who lived with the Master’s family, was asked in a commemorative program where she guested whether she was ever asked by the Master to pose for a painting. Reminiscing about the time, she good-naturedly replied, that indeed, yes, but Prof Edades teasingly told her it would be in the nude!
A marker to honor the City’s National Artist on his 100th birth anniversary was erected at a corner of Bolosan road close to where the Edades family home was located. It was installed in 1995 during the term of Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr upon the initiative of Councilor George Castillo who was the committee chairman of Tourism and Culture.
One would easily miss the marker as the site is now the holding area of tricycles waiting for passengers. Its significance is lost on the standby drivers whose attention span is narrowed on the fare they have collected so far in the day. Here, arts and culture are again at loggerhead with commerce and daily survival.
The importance of arts and culture as quintessence of life, has not really touched the soul of the community where once this giant of an artist who shook the foundation of art in the country, sought respite in and roamed around unassumingly.
It behooves us as heirs to his legacy, to make amends and initiate ways by which we can properly pay homage to him for the signal honor he bestowed on our city.
Admit it or not, we are indebted to the Master. And to institute ways by which our people can identify with the lessons of his life, is a gesture he most deserves, and which we must share to all.
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