It is one of shock when I learned Mariz Mandocdoc passed away last September 8. I had combined impressions on Mariz the first time I met her. She was one of the top officials recruited by then Clark Development Corporation President Romeo S. David. I worked closely with her and together with my friend Tony Salenga when I was hired as a consultant in renaming all the streets and putting up a museum in the former American military installation. She was one of the pioneer officials in CDC. Aside from a being nice young woman, she talked scholarly and was very pleasant. Tucked in her belt is a Ph.D and was a scholar from Philippine Science High School. The years she spent at CDC were all sacrificed and directed to the growth of Clark Freeport. Farewell Mariz!
In my long years of service to government I have met many people who had different credentials, ethics and viewpoints. I learned a lot from them. In 2001, I was appointed director of Clark Development Corporation and concurrently also as member of the Clark International Airport Corporation. In the year 2009 I was appointed as board director of Bases Conversion Development Authority and served other subsidiaries like Poro Point Management Corporation, Bataan Technolgical Park Inc., BMHI and Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation. Many of my co-workers passed away already, while others are enjoying their retirement, the few others are still in service of our country.
Despite all those government positions I handled, I consider myself being a journalist/writer first and foremost. As such I never failed to comment on passing events in our country each year. I regularly post on Facebook and twit on X. I also love to look back and write something about the past. I remember making assessment about the sixties which was considered as Philippines’ golden years. The country was performing economically better than most nations in Southeast Asia. After Japan, the international rating agencies tagged the country as number two in economic growth. The gross domestic products (GDP) was up above the chart. The Philippine peso was two pesos vs the US dollar. And Filipino businessmen traveled to Taipei, threw dollars when painting the town red in the Peitu district. Rich families hired their maids from Taiwan and China.
But the turnaround was when Filipino-Chinese tycoons of the country became so rich and controlled most of the country’s enterprises and they started making the banner headlines in the business section of national newspapers in early eighties . Earlier they were involved only in small trading like selling shoes, junk shops and corner sari-sari stores. The Sy family, Gokongweis, Gotianuns Ongpins and many others are all success stories.
During the silver age of economic renaissance in Pampanga and Angeles, Carlos P. Garcia was president. His vice president, Diosdado P. Macapagal billed as the poor boy from Lubao was the most likely successor. When Macapagal wrested the presidency from Garcia, it was all jubilations for the Capampangans. And particularly happy were the people of Lubao. As expected there was a changing of the guards in Malacanang Palace. Amelito Mutuc of Arayat was his executive secretary. And Juan Cancio of Macabebe succeeded him. Jose B. Lingad of Lubao was Labor Secretary and held sensitive positions like Commissioner of Bureau of Customs. Leoncio Parungao was Press Secretary. Brigido Valencia of Guagua was Public Works Secretary.Jose Pelayo of Angeles was Social Welfare secretary.
Apolonio Ponio of Guagua was commissioner of the Land Transportation Office. Marciano Dizon of Porac was the head of Philsugin (Philsucom). Silvestre Punzalan was president of the state owned Philippine National Bank. Dominator Danan of Lubao was Director of the National Bilibid Prison. Emerito De Jesus of Bacolor was undersecretary of the Department of National Defense. There were cabalens who held various positions in government in that four year that Macapagal was in Malacanang. It was only cut short when former party mate Senate President Ferdinand Marcos trounced him in re-election bid. Now there's another Marcos in the palace.