ONCE in a while, the gentleman from Pampanga, Senator Lito Lapid draws the attention of the country's columnists. If you're a newspaper reader, you'll remember when he filed a bill prohibiting the use of stapler. Nothing came out of it but elicited laughter from some sectors. This time, he filed a bill seeking to rename San Francisco Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City to Fernando Poe Jr. street. The effort of our "pangulo" in FPJ Ang Probinsiyano TV series was cut short when the first reaction was aired emphatically by Ambeth Ocampo of The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ocampo is a noted historian and is one of the most read columnists in that paper. He said the San Francisco Del Monte street has more justifiable stories to it dating back during the Spanish period. He reasoned at great length and graphically explained his objection.
The other columnists suggested to Lapid to look for another road to honor FPJ, a legendary actor who made several box office movies for decades. From Anak ni Palaris, Lo Waist Gang, Hindi ka na sisikatan ng araw, etc. and hundreds more FPJ starrer. (My own suggestion is to look for a road somewhere in Quezon City or in San Juan to name it Rogelio De La Rosa Avenue. He was from Lubao, Pampanga a cabalen. He was the king of Philippine movies in the early years. He also served the country as a senator and as ambassador to Cambodia and The Hague in Netherlands.
RETRO: My friend Mariz Mandocdoc, current OIC President of Clark Development Corporation, still remember this for sure when I was tapped then by CDC President Romy David to head a committee to rename all streets inside then Clark Special Economic Zone (Now Clark Freeport). She was a key member of that committee. This came about after I told the retired Air Force General Romeo David who was appointed by President Fidel V. Ramos as CDC president to remove the vestiges of American occupation of the land by way of renaming all the streets. He said it was a good idea. So he ordered the creation of a committee.
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Names of streets carry history. When I was a member of the Angeles City Council, I proposed to rename certain streets in Angeles City. But it was shot down even before it took off by a very influential person in the Pamintuan administration. I drafted a resolution and intended to rename some streets like Sto. Entierro to Pantaleon De Miranda street and Sto. Rosario street to Rosalia De Jesus Street. They were the founders of Angeles City. I was thinking that Rizal Extension Street which starts from boundary of Barangay San Nicolas going to Barangay Sto. Rosario and leads up to the boundaries of Angeles City and Porac can be renamed Juanita L. Nepomuceno street. This is to honor Mrs. Nepomuceno the principal sponsor in the passage of Republic Act 3700, or the "Charter of the City of Angeles."
A research was needed so I suggested that we invite historians, academicians and whoever is interested in this issue of renaming the Angeles streets. In the case of one subdivision here, all streets were named after cigarette brands. This in Leoncia Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Domingo. The city should have long time honored her sons and daughters who somehow can be said gave honor to the place. Another figure deserving honor was the late Mayor Rafael Del Rosario. He was the last town mayor and the first Angeles City mayor. He can be credited to the many reforms he instituted in local governance during his time. It was under his watch when the first comprehensive land use plan for the city was implemented.
There are more Angelenos who are deserving to be remembered. The fingers and toes are not enough to count those who should be honored. What about renaming Magalang Road Don Juan Nepomuceno Street? The pioneering businessman of the city. And Magalang Avenue to Dona Teresa, Don Juan's spouse who was known for her philanthropy. What about a road for Rafael L. Lazatin and another one for Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin. An effort should be made. And now, and not tomorrow.