BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance declaring December 8, 2017, and every year thereafter as “Natan la-Pangasinense Day’ in the city and appropriating funds for the said purpose.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Edgar M. Avila stated the local legislative measure will also be known as “Natan La Pangasinense Day” in the city where natives of Pangasinan will have a chance to interact with the local residents, sharing their rich culture and traditions and their famous cuisine as the city is a melting pot of people from various parts not only of the country but also of the global village.
The ordinance added the necessary amounts required for the funding of the ceremonies and other expenses to be incurred by the local government shall be included in the annual appropriations of the city to sustain a regular program of festivities.
Pangasinan is located about 50 kilometers away from the city and is the third biggest province in the entire archipelago, deriving its name from salt or asin in the local dialect, the primary source of livelihood of the people in the province decades ago.
The ordinance claimed the socio-economic and cultural linkage between the Igorots and the lowland natives established commercial and kinship ties and can be found in Spanish chronicles long before the conquistadores came.
On the other hand, the mountain dwellers most of whom were miners would regularly go down to Pangasinan and exchange their gold for livestock, blankets and other lowland products.
As the city flourished to become the country’s Summer Capital and with the presence of the United States (US) bases, Avila noted there was a boom in the economy of the region and many lowland natives, including the Pangasinenses, migrated from their coastal homes to the city hoping to find fortune in the gold mines of Baguio and Benguet, while others sought employment in Chinese-owned businesses such as groceries among others.
He explained eventually, as their lives progressed, many people ventured into their own business becoming stall owners in the local city market, thus, the predominance of Pangasinenses in the area.
According to him, Pangasinenses have also established their presence in the city not only in private agencies but also in the city government and government agencies and many of whom have occupied important seats in the city such as former Mayor Ramon Jun Labo, Councilors Nicasio S. Palaganas, Edilberto Tenefrancia, and many more.
The ordinance underscored that it is about time that local residents celebrate and recognize the contributions of Pangasinenses in the community in the city, thus, the immediate enactment of the proposed local legislative measure to institutionalize the celebration of the Pangasinan Day in the city.
The culture of the Pangasinenses and the Igorots have obvious similarities, thus, the need for the people to celebrate the said event for everyone to acquaint themselves with the culture and traditions of others.
By Dexter A. See
