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By Anna Marie Cera-Palma
"The year was 1937. My mom wasn't even born yet.
Dagupan wasn't even a city. The whole of Pangasinan still belonged to one diocese, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Don Manuel L. Quezon was President of our country under the commonwealth government.
Anna Burgillos-Billote, the first child and daughter of Ciriaco and Maxima, was already then a public school teacher. She was 25. Marcelino Garcia Biala, then 24, was taking up law at the Letran in Manila. He is the son of Sixto and Gregoria. Both Families are from Poblacion, Mangaldan. Si Lola, taga-Baybay; si Lolo, taga-Abalateng.
When I asked Lola about their love story, she intimated that theirs was one of pre-arranged marriage approved by both their families. It was most probable that her husband would come from the same town since as she recalled, 'Diad bili piliti, mas magano so sakey a unkaraw no sikato et taga parehon baley.'
Thus, the marriage of our dear Lolo and Lola. Seven decades of blissful marriage has brought ten glorious and loving children: Beda (+), Amanda, Fr. Romeo, Douglas, Anne, Perla, Gloria, Nancy, Mila and, Luz. And they all came and gathered to celebrate a wonderful event with pride and honor.
The renewal of vows was officiated by Msgr. Rafael Magno and was concelebrated by Msgr. Orlando Sabangan, son of Fr. Romeo Biala, grandson Fr. Jerry Cera, Fr. Francis Posadas, Fr. Reynaldo Romero, Fr. Roy Villamil, Fr. Jonathan Songcuan and, Fr. Mario Morales at the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church on April 22, 2007, Sunday at 3:30 pm.
The dinner reception was held at the Leisure Coast Hotel in Dagupan City.
A remarkable highlight of the event was when Lolo Enoy and Lola Coring marched down the reception hall in the company of Sergio Cera and Naty Dizon, the ring bearer and flower girl respectively, seventy years ago.
Thank you Lola and Lolo. We love you so much!"
The municipal elections of 2007 are over. Reelectionist Mayor Hermie Romero posted a landslide win over comebacking former Mayor Tito Sarzaba. However, incumbent Vice-mayor Berex Abalos lost to 3-time municipal councilor Atty. Jojo Surdilla.
In the municipal council line-up, only three incumbent councilors returned to the floor: Judith Gubatan, Willie Mir and Magda Villanueva.
Returning councilor Baby Abalos led the new faces: first-timer Atty. Joseph Cera and three successful Barangay Captains: Arthur Leo Fabia (Poblacion), Manuel Cabrera (Malabago) and Bernabe Cervas (Bateng). It is the first time in the history of Mangaldan that 3 barangay captains have been elected as councilors. Hopefully, the concerns of the barangays would be better addressed from here on.
The picture shows some of the winners: (l - in blue shirt) Brgy. Capt. Manuel Cabrera, (c - in yellow shirt) Brgy. Capt. Art Fabia and, (r - in white shirt) Mayor Hermie Romero.
Philip Fabia just emailed to me the vote counts as follows:
Congratulationas to the new public service team!
Vancouver's For-D-Boys came over to former Poblacion Kagawad Ronnie Limon's residence last Saturday, April 28th, for a night of laughter and unwinding.
Longtime Vancouver resident (that is 10 years already) Roque Bautista from Barangay Osiem came out of hibernation to join the group. Like a traditional 'barkada' player, he needed no urging to bring a case of Coronito. The first arrivals were: Ronnie Limon, Pepe Tan, Philip Fabia, Roque Bautista and Djoma de Guzman. Espie Limon graciously took our pictures. She also dished out sinigang na ulo ng salmon and baked halibut collars ('panga'). Ronnie and Philip shared their Remy Martins and Pepe sampled us with Mona's famous sardined-Sockeye.
Later in the evening, Jun Cadang arrived with a bottle of Fundador. Rey Tan, who lives just next door to Ronnie, also came over with his two friends. In this picture: Philip Fabia, Rey's friend, Roque Bautista, Jun Cadang, Rey's friend, Rey Tan and host Ronnie Limon. The group decided that the event is worth repeating, an opportunity to unwind from the rigor of work-work-work, and so they will meet from here on every first saturday of the month.
When Mangaldan celebrates its town fiesta, the festivities end up being referred to as 'Pistay Baley' to differentiate it from the fiestas of the different barrios or barangays. The focus of the celebration is, of course, done in the town center, the Poblacion. Traditionally, the fiesta would coincide with the feast of the town's patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas, on March 7th. As the occassion moved towards an opportunity for fund raising and to provide opportunity for Mangaldan residents who have moved out of town, the municipal council voted to set aside the first weekend of March as the fiesta celebration days.
The fund raising can be a popularity contest. Little Ms. Mangaldan has become an annual opportunity for mothers to vie their toddler-daughters for the road to stardom. The main event of the beauty contests would be the Queen of Mangaldan. In this pair of pictures, the court of Little Ms. Mangaldan and the 1st princess are paraded through the main streets of Barangay Poblacion.
This year's Queen of Mangaldan is Sheryl Rose. During the parade, the various student organizations, adult civic organizations, the local political leaders trek behind the beauty queens. The 'body guards' of the beauties get to ride in the truck-loaded floats.
Usually, on the weekend before the fiesta, a hilarious and entertaining beauty contest is held at the open air auditorium in the town plaza. Miss Gay Mangaldan draws a massive crowd of devotees who shriek and stomp their feet in approval of every scene in the well-choreographed event.
The crowning of the Queen of Mangaldan is done on the Saturday evening. The following night is referred to as Barangay Night and each barangay sets up a table in the plaza and lay out goodies and foodies on the table. If it happens to be a local election year like 2007, then the tables are laden with gifts from aspiring political candidates to gain the graces of the barangay leaders. The host of the night invariably falls on the Barangay Poblacion Council. Punong Barangay (or Brgy Capt) and concurrent municipal councilor candidate Art Fabia poses with Provincial Board Member Atty. Manuel Ancheta who resides in Brgy Poblacion.
The first couple of Barangay Poblacion, Art and Noemi Yap-Fabia. They also hosted the traditional fiesta dinner to friends and local leaders. Oooohhh! Look at those native food: inihaw na pusit, calderetta kambing, lechon, menudo, steamed bingngalo, lumpia shanghai. Those plastic cups must hold the buko pandan salad.
In this table, Capt. Art Fabia hosts town mayor Hermie Romero (seated right in white shirt). Others are, from left to right: Malabago Brgy Capt Manuel Cabrera, Alitaya Brgy Capt Ben Torio, Lalaine Fabia (from Vancouver, BC), Dra. Fe Soriano, Jun Fabia, and Dra. De Vera (?). Capitana Noemi Fabia hosts other local leaders: Brgy Capt of Banaoang (?) and Guilig Bgry Capt Fred Soriano.
I need help on this picture where Capitana Noemi sits with other Capitanas who just trucked-in from a field trip to Baguio City. In the final picture is the person who took the pictures as he vacationed in our hometown, new Vancouver-resident Architect Edwin Fabia (leftmost wearing orange tanktop). With him is his uncle, Mangaldan Youth Sports aficionado, Jun Fabia, Max Castro, and retired USA citizen Angel Magalong (who is married to Chit Biala).
