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Saturday, September 27, 2003
1T Dagupeņo-expats to come home on December
SOME 1,000 Dagupeņo-expatriates are homeward-bound for the city fiesta and the holiday season, which lasts from December 16 to 30.
This was learned from Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, who likewise said the balikbayans would be feted during the Grand Pawil Dagupan in a welcome party on December 22, wherein all activities would focus on Pangasinan songs and dances.
"We will encourage a nostalgic feeling with the culture and arts of their city of birth," he said.
Mayor Lim said that in effect, the balikbayans would encourage other Dagupeņos abroad to visit their place of origin.
The Grand Pawil Dagupan was launched in 1993 by former mayor Alipio F. Fernandez Jr., who is now undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Lim said Milpitas City (in California) Mayor Jose Esteves is the overall chairman of the Pawil Dagupan abroad, adding that several expatriates from the city have already made plane reservations this early.
"We are optimistic that there will more of them to come and we hope, however, that there will be no negative stories, like the Sars and the terrorist activities," he said.
The mayor said the Dagupeņos abroad thought that there is still an incidence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). "But we assured them there is no longer any case of Sars in the country," he said.
Lim said the City Government would be giving recognition to outstanding Dagupeņos abroad on December 30, including Mayor Esteves, who would be conferred the Rizal Award.
"We will have President Arroyo as guest and she will confer the awards to them," he said.
Lim said all the activities held last year would be maintained, like the nightly parties sponsored by various organizations and institutions.
"There will be many homecomings to be conducted by the various schools and the fiesta celebration will really be full of enjoyment," he said.
The mayor said the celebration of the Pawil Dagupan this year would be different because there would be a one-day workshop that would seek the cooperation of the balikbayans.
"They might share some ideas on how we could bring about development in our city and, perhaps, they could share some materials," he said.
Lim said such developmental ideas would be concentrated in commerce, tourism, youth and sports development.
"In the field of education, those employed in computer companies could donate outmoded computers for our public schools," he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Lim announced recently that he has chosen Councilor Michael B. Fernandez as this year's Hermano Mayor.
Lim's choice of Fernandez to lead this year's city fiesta celebration was due to his confidence that the bachelor-councilor could work out a successful staging of the various activities planned for the entire duration of the celebration.
In a sit-in meeting with the city chief executive, Fernandez submitted his additional proposed activities that would be included in the month-long city fiesta celebration, with a grand creative costume parade as one of the features.
Discussed during the initial meeting was the invitation of former President Fidel V. Ramos and movie king Fernando Poe Jr., aside from President GMA, who would grace the Pawil Dagupan II Achievement Awards on December 30 at the city plaza.
In an interview, Fernandez said he is now finalizing and putting the supposed activities to order for a smooth and successful staging.
"I would like to prove my worth in handling this very sensitive job, which the mayor has entrusted me. I just hope that I could get all the necessary support from my colleagues in the City Council, as well as the public, to enable us Dagupeņos to really feel the spirit of the Christmas season, especially in the celebration of our city fiesta," Fernandez said.
He also thanked Lim for giving him the opportunity to act as the Hermano Mayor in this year's city fiesta. DRZ
(September 27, 2003 issue)
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