TIMELINE: WWII-Era Bayambang

TIMELINE: WWII-Era Bayambang

(This is being posted in commemoration of the Lingayen Gulf Landing.)

As we commemorate the Lingayen Gulf Landing, we look back on Bayambang’s own wartime story directly connected to this event, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines to capture it from the Japanese invaders—a story of courage, sacrifice, and quiet heroism. The Second World War did not spare this town, as its people were thrust into a period of fear and uncertainty, forced to abandon their homes, endure bombings, and witness the destruction of familiar landmarks. Yet even in the darkest moments, the spirit of the Bayambangueños did not waver.

Bayambang became both a refuge and a battleground, a place where ordinary citizens rose as guerrillas and allies in the larger struggle for freedom. Many answered the call to resist, risking—and in many cases giving—their lives in the fight against the Japanese Imperial Army. Their bravery, whether in open defiance or in silent endurance, formed part of the backbone of the resistance movement in Central Luzon.

This timeline is offered in honor of those brave guerrillas, soldiers, and civilians of Bayambang, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice so that future generations might live in freedom. Even though they are no longer physically with us, may their memory remain a source of pride, gratitude, and inspiration for all Bayambangueños.

1940

Leopoldo Aquino won the election as municipal mayor and served up to the outbreak of the war in 1942.

1941

"The 1940s was marred by the events of the Second World War."

When Japanese troops invaded Bayambang, residents fled to the barrios by walking at midnight.

"Japanese atrocities left bitter memories among the Bayambangueños. Big buildings like the church, the schools and the big houses were the target of bombings as these were suspected to be the headquarters of the enemy. Many Bayambangueños joined the guerrilla forces who fought against the Japanese Imperial Army. Some of them were tortured, killed, and forced to join the infamous Bataan Death March.”

?1941

During the Japanese regime, Bayambang was made the capital of Pangasinan when Dr. Diaz was appointed Governor by the Japanese Imperial Government. Dr. Diaz held his Provincial Administration Office at the residence of Eulogio Dauz at the junction of Quezon Blvd. and M.H. Del Pilar St.

1943

During World War II, noted American military official, Col. Edwin Ramsey, set foot in Bayambang to organize Filipino guerrillas against their common nemesis, the Japanese Imperial Army. In the country's bitter struggle against Japanese imperialism, Bayambang had been Lt. Edwin P. Ramsey's East Central Luzon Guerrilla Area (ECLGA) headquarters for some time. ECLGA encompassed Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales and La Union.

Ramsey's aide de camp was Major Claro J. Camacho of Barangay Nalsian. (Camacho would become the first pilot from Bayambang and would serve as Liaison Officer of the Philippine Air Force.)

According to local lore, Col. Ramsey evaded capture by the Japanese by hiding inside a taltagan (giant boat-shaped wooden mortar) in the barrio of Inirangan.

When liberation came, American forces bombed the big buildings including the church and Calvo Bridge. One bomb was dropped in the church and fell right in the middle of the aisle but did not explode, causing no damage – a miracle attributed to the patron, St. Vincent Ferrer.

Another bomb created a huge crater at the northern part of M.H. Del Pilar St. (The crater has been recently filled up with assorted materials and converted into the present barangay hall complex.)

When the military government of the Japanese Imperial Army relinquished its military rule, Leopoldo Aquino was named municipal mayor and served up to mid-1944.

1944

Mariano Fernandez took over as acting municipal mayor up to Liberation time. He was appointed by Pangasinan governor Santiago Estrada.

On December 27, former mayor Enrique Roldan was executed over a fishpond (Mangabul?) dispute with a rival guerilla unit but under the guise that he was a Japanese collaborator. The masterminds were eventually sentenced with reclusion perpetua. (People of the Philippines vs Bato; date of decision: May 31, 1950)

1945

During Liberation era, Ambrosio Gloria became the next municipal mayor after he was appointed by the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit of the United States Army. He served for about a year.

The ECLGA war veterans held their first annual convention in Bayambang Normal School (what would become PSU-Bayambang Campus today) on November 15, 1945.

***

References: Bayambang Quadricentennial commemorative book; website dedicated to Col. Edwin Ramsey's memory; Joey Ferrer

Photos: NARA; De Vera family, Daniel Anciano

(Corrections welcome)

Pre-Electric Lighting Devices

Pre-Electric Lighting Devices

Can you imagine a time where there was no electric-powered light? Depending on the perspective, it was either the literally Dark Ages or a romantic era when townsfolk spent time by stargazing or by leisurely watching fireflies light up little paths under the moonlight.

Before the advent of electricity, townsfolk had to get by by using an assortment of lighting devices or equipment.

Torches made of bamboo tubing with a cloth soaked in gasoline at the end were carried around as one walked a dark path. Dried-up coconut fronds were also used as makeshift torch.

Candles were used in homes and churches.

At night, the kingki -- small gasoline-laden lamps made mostly out of tin can with a wick made of cloth -- was useful. The kingki, or tinterwan, came in various shapes and sizes.

For brighter illumination, there was the hasag, a large glass lamp fueled by kerosene that gave a strong clear white light, like fluorescent light. One lighted the bulb-shaped wick by pumping at the kerosene with a lever and using a lighted matchstick.

According to local historical record, it was only in 1976 when the [Central] Pangasinan Electric Cooperative Inc. or CENPELCO, a non-stock electric cooperative, started its operations and extended services to the town of Bayambang.

The changes this development brought on were, of course, profound.

The Pandayan

 The Pandayan of Idong: An Ancestral Forge of Fire, Iron, and Memory

Tucked within the quiet rhythms of Barangay Idong is a humble yet powerful testament to craftsmanship, courage, and continuity—the pandayan, an ancestral blacksmith’s forge that has shaped not only iron but also the history of a community.

Belonging to Daniel de Guzman Mandapat, this ethnographic work implement dates back to the early 1800s, making it more than two centuries old. The pandayan was inherited through generations, beginning with Mandapat’s forefather—recognized as the very first blacksmith of Barangay Idong—passed down to his grandfather, then to his father, Tianong Mandapat, and finally entrusted to Daniel himself. Each generation did not merely own the forge; they carried forward a living tradition.

At the heart of the pandayan is a simple yet ingenious system: an iron furnace paired with a hand-operated air pump carved from a redwood log. This particular wood is known for revealing a deep, blood-red hue when its bark is stripped—an arresting visual that mirrors the intensity of the forge’s fire. A long metal rod is used to pump air into the hollowed log, feeding oxygen into the flames and raising the heat to levels capable of bending iron to human will.

The blacksmithing process was painstaking and slow, demanding strength, patience, and mastery. Coal was burned until it reached searing heat, into which a wheel axle was placed until it glowed red.

With rhythmic hammer strikes, the smith flattened the metal, reshaping it again and again until it emerged as a barang or jungle bolo—an essential blade for both survival and labor.

Beyond its technical ingenuity, the pandayan holds profound historical significance. During the Second World War, it became a silent ally of resistance, producing weapons for local guerrillas who fought for freedom. In times of peace, the blades forged here served farmers, helping them clear land and sustain livelihoods. The bolos were also sold within the barangay and neighboring towns, making the forge a modest yet vital source of income for the Mandapat family.

Today, however, the future of the pandayan hangs in delicate balance. Although Daniel Mandapat’s two nieces—its prospective heirs—know the craft of making jungle bolos and weapons, they have chosen different professional paths. Like many traditional practices, the forge faces the quiet threat of fading relevance in a rapidly modernizing world.

Yet the pandayan remains—a powerful symbol of ancestral knowledge, wartime resilience, and the dignity of manual craft. More than an object of iron and wood, it is a vessel of memory, carrying within it the echoes of hammer blows, the glow of fire, and the enduring spirit of Barangay Idong.

Profiled on May 27, 2019, through the invaluable testimony of key informant Daniel de Guzman Mandapat, and documented by cultural mappers Raymund R. Marcos, Marjorie FM. Bravo, Glaiza W. Seguin, Diana Rose D. Reyes, Lyza Gwen M. Iglesias, Al Chris DG. Junio, and Mark Bryan DG. Gonzalez, with Christopher Gozum as project adviser, all of whom were from Bayambang National High School.

Insert: yubayb (bellows) - Melchor Orpilla

BAYAMBANGUENEWS – MONDAY REPORT – JANUARY 12, 2026

 

BAYAMBANGUENEWS – MONDAY REPORT – JANUARY 12, 2026

 

[SMILE, VOLUME, ENERGY!]

INTRO:

1: Magandang araw, mga Kabaleyan! Ako po si _____________ mula sa Rural Health Unit II.

2: At ako naman po si _____________ mula rin sa Rural Health Unit II.

1: Hatid namin ang mga balita ukol sa mga makabuluhang programa, proyekto, at aktibidad ng lokal na pamahalaan at ang pakikiisa ng ating komunidad.

2: Sama-sama nating tunghayan ang mga kaganapang patunay ng malasakit, disiplina, at pagkakaisa sa bayan ng Bayambang.

1&2: Ito ang... BayambangueNews

=====================

HEADLINES

1. Mayor Niña, Namahagi ng Pamaskong Handog sa Iba't Ibang Sektor

Bukod sa pamaskong handog sa bawat sambahayan at pamilya, namahagi rin si Mayor Niña, mula sa sariling bulsa, ng handog na pamasko sa iba't ibang sektor ng bawat barangay gaya ng mga senior citizen, teacher, PTA member, OFW, TODA, at SK at barangay officials, kabilang ang mga tanod.

 

2. Simpleng Composting Method, Ibinahagi ng ESWMO

Ibinahagi ng ESWMO-Bayambang ang isang simple at praktikal na composting method gamit ang kitchen at food waste na sinubukan mismo ng isang staff sa kanyang tahanan. Layunin nitong hikayatin ang mga household, lalo na sa urban barangays, na mag-divert ng biodegradable waste kahit may limitadong espasyo, alinsunod sa RA 9003.

 

3. Switch Cafe, Muling Naghatid ng Tulong sa Indigent Families

Muling nagsagawa ng outreach program ang Switch Cafe para sa may 100 na indigent na benepisyaryo noong December 27, katuwang ang MNAO at iba pang sponsors. Saklaw ng programa ang mga pamilya mula sa siyam na barangay na nangangailangan ng tulong sa nutrisyon at kalusugan.

 

4. Sibol MPC, Nagbigay-Saya sa mga Graduate ng STAC

Nagsponsor ang Sibol Multi-Purpose Cooperative ng isang outreach activity para sa mga dating estudyante ng STAC-Bayambang noong December 29. Sa tulong ng mga sponsors mula sa LGU-Bayambang Employees' Association, naipahatid ang saya at alaala ng Kapaskuhan sa mga benepisyaryo.

 

5. Kampanya Kontra Ilegal na Paputok, Pinaigting

Sa bisperas ng bagong taon, as pinahigpit ng PNP-Bayambang ang kanilang operasyon laban sa ilegal na paputok. Sila ay mahigpit na nag-inspeksyon sa itinalagang firecracker zone at mahigpit na nagbantay laban sa ilegal na paputok aat ipinagbabawal at improvised firecrackers.

 

6. Mayor Niña, May Raffle Surprise sa Mga Kawani ng Munisipyo

Noong January 6, si Mayor Niña ay naghatid ng tuwa at saya sa mga empleyado ng Munisipyo sa pamamagitan ng isang raffle matapos ang unang flag-raising ceremony ngayong taon. Ipinamahagi ang iba’t ibang kapaki-pakinabang na gamit sa bahay, kabilang ang mga grand prize na washing machine at smart TV sa halos isang libong kawani. Ang surpresang handog ay nagbigay ng napakasiglang simula ng panibagong taon ng pagbibigay ng serbisyo publiko.

 

7. Mga Aktibidad sa Pistay Baley 2026, Inilatag sa Pulong

Sa isang pulong, pinangunahan ni Mayor Niña ang mga paghahanda para sa gaganaping Pista’y Baley 2026, kung saan binalangkas ang mga aktibidad na bubuo sa selebrasyon na nakatakdang ganapin sa March 28 hanggang April 1, at sa April 5. Isasagawa ang pista sa napagkasunduang tema na, “Bayambang: Ang Bayang Pinapangarap.”

 

8. EEC Officers ng LGU, Muling Pinulong ukol sa Pagtitipid sa Kuryente

Muling pinulong ng Munisipyo ang mga Energy Efficiency and Conservation Officers nito upang talakayin ang energy conservation measures at recalibration strategies bilang bahagi ng pagtitipid sa konsumo ng kuryente sa mga tanggapan. Dito ay sinuri ang mga nakagawian at mga praktikal na hakbang para mas mapababa pa ang paggamit ng enerhiya.

 

9. TFD, Inilatag ang mga Susunod na Hakbang

Sa pulong ng Task Force Disiplina noong January 8, tinalakay ang mga susunod na direksyon sa pagpapatupad ng disiplina at kaayusan sa pagsisimula ng taong 2026. Ibinahagi sa pulong ang mga update sa traffic management kabilang ang planong pagkabit ng traffic signal lights sa mga pangunahing interseksiyon, progreso ng field operations, at mga rekomendasyon ng traffic consultant.

10. MDRRMO, Nag-Inspeksyon sa Pantol

Noong January 6, sinuri ng MDRRMO ang imbakan ng emergency disaster preparedness kits sa Obillo Elementary School sa Brgy. Pantol at ang kondisyon ng Pantol Evacuation Center. Sila rin ay nagsukat sa mga lugar na malubhang binaha noong nakaraang Hulyo upang magkaroon ng kongkretong datos sa naging epekto ng mga kalamidad, para sa mas epektibong disaster preparedness at risk reduction.

11. Congratulations, Bar Passers!

Ang LGU-Bayambang ay mainit na bumabati sa lahat ng mga Bayambangueño na pumasa sa pinakahuling Bar Exam, partikular na ang dating opisyal at dalawang kawani nito!

=====================

 [FLASH]

Atty. Charlemagne Perez Papio - Municipal Legal Staff

Atty. Mary Grace Caguioa Agas - Business Permits and Licensing Office Head

Atty. Gabriel Tristan P. Fernandez - former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President

=====================

Bayambang, Dapat Alam Mo: RHU II Medical Services:

(host: ____________ )

 

Bayambang, dapat alam mo na maaari kang mag-avail ng mga sumusunod na medical services mula sa RHU II at III lalo na kung ikaw ay nakatira sa kanilang catchment area.

 

- Animal Bite Treatment

Nagbibigay ang RHU II at III ng agarang lunas at bakuna laban sa rabies para sa mga nakagat ng aso o pusa upang maiwasan ang malubhang komplikasyon.

 

==============================================

[FLASH ONLY]

Schedule:

RHU II: kada Martes at Biyernes

==============================================

 

- Implementation of YaKap o Yaman sa Kalusagan Program

Aktibong ipinatutupad ang YaKap o Yaman sa Kalusagan Program upang makapagbigay ng libreng konsultasyon, laboratory services, at piling gamot para sa mga rehistradong miyembro ng PhilHealth.

 

- Mobile Blood Donation Drives

Regular na nagsasagawa ng mobile blood donation activities upang matiyak ang sapat na suplay ng dugo para sa mga pasyenteng nangangailangan.

 

- Spearheading of Komprehensibong Serbisyo sa Bayan o KSB

Nangunguna ang RHU II at III sa pagpapatupad ng KSB, isang one-stop-shop na nagdadala ng iba’t ibang serbisyong pangkalusugan diretso sa mga barangay.

 

- Health Promotion Activities (IEC)

Patuloy ang kanilang information at education campaigns o IEC hinggil sa maternal at child care, communicable at non-communicable diseases, kalusugan ng kabataan, mental health, environmental sanitation, at oral health.

 

- Provision of Prescribed Medicines to Consulted Patients

Nagbibigay ang mga RHU ng mga available na iniresetang gamot upang matiyak ang tuluy-tuloy na gamutan ng mga pasyenteng kumukunsulta.

 

- Provision of Maintenance Medications for Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients

Tinutulungan ang mga pasyenteng may altapresyon at diabetes sa pamamagitan ng pamamahagi ng available na maintenance medicines para sa mas maayos na pangangasiwa ng kanilang kondisyon.

 

- Mental Health Assessment and Counselling

Nagbibigay din ang RHU II at III ng mental health assessment at counselling upang suportahan ang emosyonal na kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga Bayambangueño.

 

- TB DOTS Center

May TB DOTS Center ang din sila para sa libreng pagsusuri, gamutan, at masusing pagmo-monitor ng mga pasyenteng may tuberculosis.

 

- STI/HIV Counselling

Nagkakaloob naman ng kumpidensyal na counselling, impormasyon, at gabay ang mga naturang RHU kaugnay ng sexually transmitted infections at HIV para sa maagang pag-iwas at tamang pangangalaga.

 

- Birthing Facility

May ligtas at kumpletong serbisyo sa panganganak ang birthing facility ng RHU II upang matiyak ang maayos na pangangalaga sa mga buntis at bagong silang na sanggol.

 

- Dental Services

Maaari ring magpacheck-up at magpabunot ng ngipin sa RHU II araw-araw mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes.

 

Kaya't kung ikaw ay taga-Bayambang, lalo na kung taga-Barangay Wawa at mga kalapit na mga barangay, kabilang ka sa catchment area ng RHU II at maaaring mag-avail ng mga serbisyo nito.

 

Ang lahat ng ito, Bayambang, ay dapat alam mo!                

==============================================

OUTRO:

1: At iyan po ang mga balitang nagbibigay-inspirasyon at pag-asa sa ating bayan. Muli, ako po si _____________ ng Rural Health Unit II. ?

2: At ako naman po si ____________ ng Rural Health Unit II. ?

1: Sa patuloy na pagtutulungan ng pamahalaan at mamamayan,

2: ...Mas nagiging maliwanag ang kinabukasan ng Bayambang.

1: Hanggang sa muli...

1&2: Ito ang... BayambangueNews!

 

 

Pangasinan Terms for Chair

Pangasinan Terms for Chair

Bangko - simple chair with no backrest

Bangkito - small bangko; often used for when one washes clothes and has to sit as low as one can

Irungan, Yurungan - four-egged chair with backrest, usually made of wood or iron

Taborete - stool

Palangka - low chair with crossed legs made of bamboo

Palangkito - small version of palangka

Butaka, Tumba-tumba - lounge-type rocking chair with reclining backrest usually reserved for the elderly

The Hidden Hands Behind (LGU) Events

 The Hidden Hands Behind (LGU) Events

Unless you have a coterie of servants and hirelings, there comes a time in your life when you are asked to organize an event, any event.

In our LGU, we organize not just one event, but events, literally almost every single day. It can be a small event like a lecture or a big event like an extravaganza.

But have you thought about how it is done? If you think it is easy, it is not. There are several things, people, and resources involved, most of them hidden from view.

The first part is conceptualization and planning. This requires several rounds of meeting of minds to map out the steps to successfully carry out the activity, from the flow of the program up to the assigning of tasks. The questions of what (kind of event? theme?), why (underlying purpose behind?), when (date?), and where (venue?) are the first ones that need to be answered.

Big events require physical 'programme-invites,' so someone is assigned to draft one for lay-outing and later distribution. As part of the plan, someone is assigned to run errands, drive, procure gasoline, write scripts, be the emcee, take photos for documentation, and so on. Other considerations are: Opening remarks? Doxology/Opening prayer? Resource speaker/s? Messages from other VIPs? Closing remarks?

At the same time, or even before the planning stage, you need to write communication letters asking permission from top management and cooperation from all individuals and departments/agencies involved.

Upon approval, you will need to work on the procurement papers for all materials and services needed for the affair. You will need to ensure that the activity is within the approved plan for the year (Planning Office), there is a budget for this purpose (Budget Office), and you will need the signature of key department heads (Budget, Accounting, Internal Audit, Bids and Awards Committee).

In a formal event, you will need to observe proper protocol and consult about the legality of certain things (SB, Legal, Audit, Finance).

Up next is coordination work with all the individuals and departments/agencies mentioned, whether physical or otherwise to follow-up on your request.

In our case, a lot of hands are involved, working behind the scenes.

- You have to ask the help of General Services for the logistics side -- tables, chairs, layouts, transport, even down to the cleanup before and after.

- For big events, you will need to request for proper waste collection and disposal from Solid Waste.

- You will need a sound system that works (General Services) and a LED screen for presentations (ICT).

- Certain events need medics (RHUs), rescuers (POSO, PNP, BFP, MDRRMO), and security (POSO, PNP, BFP, Army) on standby.

- Really big events need help from Engineering for little construction works, and a prior hazard assessment from MDRRMO together with the electrical engineer, plus the activation of the ICS or Incident Command System.

- A hands-on events organizer and manager can be OC with the supposedly little things, from the sound effects, microphone, lighting, refreshments, electric wiring and cables, intermission number, red carpet, air-conditioning, table skirting, down to the stage decor and floral arrangement.

- And let's not forget the welcome leis to greet VIP guests with, if not an entire welcoming committee composed of well-trained ushers, and the certificates and tokens of appreciation to be given out towards the end of the activity.

- In my experience, a lot of organizers forget one thing: request for media coverage, whether internal or external, and request for prior announcements and advertisements including infographics for online posting and standees, tarps, and streamers for posting in chokepoints (whether made in-house or via Tourism/PIO, Engineering).

You never know the potential of these supposedly minor matters in ruining your affair. You can never be too careful. Bland food will ensure a frown on attendees' faces. Spoiled food could send hundreds to the hospital all at once, not to mention potential legal charges. (In our LGU, the Municipal Administrator has an Events Team to handle this delicate side.) Faulty wiring can cause fire or electrocution. Wayward cables could trip someone up. Lack of presentable visuals betrays a lack of preparation, not to mention passion for the job. What if your PowerPoint presentation suddenly wouldn't play for some reason (virus? corrupted file?) What would be your Plan B?

I have mentioned practically all departments and agencies. Did I miss anything or anybody? I apologize in advance for the inadvertent omission.

In local government, that's not even the end of it. After an activity, you are expected to submit a post-activity report. (This will come in handy later on when you are asked to submit an accomplishment report during reviews of program implementation.)

Thereafter, the liquidation process begins, which takes up a lot of work hours per se.

Obviously, in organizing an event, a lot of helping hands are needed. But is it really a matter of "the more, the merrier"? No, sometimes, it can be that "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

I was glad when I heard that TESDA is now offering a course called Events Management. Someone figured out that organizing events is a skill and a talent that can be elevated into an art form. In fact, you can develop an entire career out of it, like some do. In fact, the most challenging ones are sometimes best left to events management professionals, if not eventologists for really level-up events.

Other things to consider in case of corporate events, according to an Events Management course finisher:

- Contingency fund for emergency purposes

- Consideration on whether the event is daytime or night-time, indoor or outdoor

-- Considerations if outdoor: weather, parking, power outage, traffic

-- Considerations if indoor: power outage, entrance and exit signages, whether to have photobooth

- Fire exit

- Entrance and exit plan of event

- Plan in case staff get stressed out during an event

- Monitoring of event details, such as number of guests, etc.; the need to always have extra tables, chairs, food...

- Provision of an event contract for the safety of both parties

A Local Search for Greatness

A Local Search for Greatness
(A quick reflection on Bayambang's Matalunggaring Awards)

I recently joined a fruitful conversation surrounding the town's conferment of its highest official honor, called the Matalunggaring Awards, together with town officials and the officials of LGU-Alaminos (led by City Administrator, Dr. Emielou Gellado) and Pangasinan State University-Alaminos Campus (led by Campus Executive Director, Dr. Liza L. Quimson).

"Matalunggaring" is reportedly the Pangasinan word for "outstanding," but this, I learned, is not an exact translation, for the word, like so many Pangasinan words, has other shades of meaning. (As per my consultation with Melchor Orpilla later on, "talunggaring" (noun) means "winning or superior quality," so "matalunggaring" (adjective) literally means being "full of" such quality.

It was an enjoyable exchange as we Bayambangueños shared what we have learned so far while giving out such awards every year, upon the latter's request for a "benchmarking activity" in view of their wish to have a similar undertaking for "Alaminians."

It made me think of the lessons we've learned from it since we started giving it in 2017.

We tackled the various facets of this award, including history/backgrounder, laying out the selection process, choosing the judges or selection committee members from third parties to avoid politicization, institutionalization through municipal ordinance together with approval from the provincial board/council, budgetary requirements, etc. These subtopics are, of course, the expertise of our overall organizer, our quick-witted, often humorous, and indefatigable dynamo of a Sangguniang Bayan Secretary, Joel V. Camacho, and the founder and the brainchild of this award, our former mayor, the visionary Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao, together with our Municipal Administrator, Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino-Vidad, and the team of consultants that Dr. Quiambao formally requested to conceptualize the name and implementing rules (mechanics and selection criteria) of the award: former college deans, Dr. Clarita Jimenez and Dr. Annie Manalang, Prof. Januario Cuchapin, and Dr. Frank Zaragoza, all from PSU-Bayambang, and former Bayambang District Hospital chief, Dr. Nicolas Miguel.

I came to this meeting as a frequent nominator, for I strongly believe in the project, particularly in the power of personal stories of success to inspire an entire town, if not an entire nation. I go to great lengths to find potential nominees and exert effort to make in-depth research on my subject by way of a triangulation of sources or references.

What I've learned from my own end are the following:

- I would not have learned about many of the honorees if not for the senior citizens of our town. I am particularly indebted to the likes of former Museum head Gloria Valenzuela as well as Mr. Joey Ferrer from overseas, who tipped me on a number of deserving names.

- The discussions from the Bayambang Culture Mapping Project, whether online or offline, are equally instrumental in the discovery of worthy individuals.

- The award paved the way for us to discover, or rediscover, many individuals worth emulating who we didn't even know are from this town or have roots in it. Having a mother or a father (or even grandfather or grandmother) from the town -- or having lived here continuously for at least 10 years and made an exceptional impact, makes one eligible.

- Ever heard of the expression "the power of one?" While it's true that the success of a single individual is hardly ever his or hers alone (so many other individuals, in big and small roles, contributed to it), an individual's story of his or her rise to success has the potential to become synonymous with the name of an entire town. A single person has the capacity to "bring honor to us all."

- Even with a clear set of criteria, selection ultimately has a subjective aspect. Different people will have different judgments on who deserves to be honored with the town's highest official accolade.

- Not everyone I nominate is selected by the screening committee, so hard feelings are inevitable. It is always a difficult, because embarrassing, part of the process for me to break the negative news to the target recipients and their families.

- Nonetheless, this difficulty is a minor matter compared to my belief in the power of telling the whole world about someone's compelling life of passion, of dedication to excellence in whatever field, of living life to the fullest in the service of God, our town, our country, or humanity in general.

I believe each town should have its own award like our Matalunggaring Award. Who knows which overlooked individuals from across the years deserve the spotlight because they have the hidden capacity to inspire everyone to be the best they can be?