Pampanga moving ‘full speed ahead’

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

BACOLOR — Governor Lilia Pineda said Wednesday that the province is now moving “full speed ahead” toward progress after Mt. Pinatubo’s devastating eruption 20 years ago.
The governor said during the dawn four-kilometer commemorative walk on Wednesday that the rehabilitation of affected areas like Bacolor, which was hardest hit, is nearing completion.
Many other towns like Porac, Sta. Rita, Guagua and San Fernando, have recovered from the ill effects of the volcano’s eruption branded as the historic “big bang.”

“Bumabalik na ulit ang sigla ng Pampanga. Na-rehabilitate na iyung mga tulay at kalsada. So the people of Bacolor could expect, two to three years from now that the vibrancy of the town will return,” Pineda told Sun.Star Pampanga.
She added: “Ang ating probinsiya ay maganda at maunlad na. In terms of development, marami ng magandang nangyari sa Pampanga, lalo na iyung dating US Base na ngayon ay Clark economic zone na. Our roads and highways are now interconnected with the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road, NLEx and SCTEx. We have the megadike and a lot of new bridges. We can now safely say na fully developed na ang Pampanga.”
Along with what she noted as the boosted development thrusts in agriculture, health, education, livelihood and infrastructure, Pineda said the Provincial Government will also keenly focus on solid waste management.
“Ang solid waste management na lang ang nakikita kong problema. But sa kabuhayan, agrikultura, fishpond industry ay okay naman. Marami tayong OFWs, mga 80,000 na tumutulong din. Sana ay magpatuloy pa kaya ito ang ating highlight sa 20th year ng Mt. Pinatubo eruption,” she added.
The commemorative walk, led by the governor, was participated in by thousands of officials, employees and delegations from Bacolor, Guagua and the City of San Fernando led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.
Rodriguez branded the walk as a unifying event that celebrated the triumph of the indomitable Kapampangan spirit.
Vice-Governor Joseller Guiao, whose late father Bren was the provincial chief executive at the time Pinatubo wrought havoc in the province, was elated over Pampanga’s recovery and continued move toward progress.
“Tayo ay natutuwa dahil tayo ay nakabangon agad. Malayo na ulit ang narating ng Pampanga (We are happy that Pampanga has moved on),” he quipped.
Late Pampanga governor honored
Third district Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr., meanwhile, led Wednesday the wreath laying ceremonies in front of the statue of the late former governor Bren Z. Guiao at the Paskuhan village here.
Gonzales was accompanied by Guiao in giving honor to the memory of the late governor who served during the early part of the height of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo 20 years ago.
Wednesday, June 15, marked the 20th year anniversary of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the most devastating calamity that hit the province in modern history. The elder Guiao was credited for having secured many development programs for Pampanga in the early part of the 90’s.
Gonzales said it is fitting to honor Guiao, who has served during the “darkest history” of the province.
The representative, a close ally and confidante of the late governor, also said that he was witness to the sacrifices, defeats and triumphs of former governor Guiao.
“I was there during the time that he was working hard for the development of Pampanga. He was there when vital decisions had to be made and his motto after the eruption was: ‘Pampanga will bounce back.’ And now his efforts to save the rest of Pampanga had paved off and many development projects he started then have made they marks in history,” Gonzales said.
Remembering ex-governor Guiao
Former governor Guiao served his term from 1986 to 1995. He was born from a peasant family in Magalang town.
One of the most colorful and influential leaders of his time, he was credited for catapulting Pampanga from an agricultural backwater to a striking industrial province with a strong growth rate.
Guiao’s success in politics was based on his effective use of public relations and tecno-developmental strategies.
Before the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, Pampanga was second only to Cebu in terms of economic growth and even occupied the leading post in many development categories.
His son, now vice governor, thanked Gonzales for taking the initiative to remember the memory and achievements of his father. He said his father has sacrificed a lot for Pampanga during his term.
“I could remember then that my father’s asthma returned and worsened after the eruption and maybe because he had to go out and see to many rehabilitation efforts that asthma problem lingered. It was one of the reasons why he passed away so early,” Guiao said.
The older Guiao was also accorded kind words from Gonzales and the younger Guiao during their public address of family, friends and supporters of the late governor.
Both officials urged Kapampangans of today’s generation to re-study their local history and learn lessons from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, particularly the efforts of people who have sacrificed for fellow Kapampangans during the tragedy.
Angeleños’ triumph
Angeleños also remembered Wednesday their triumph over tragedy when the Mt. Pinatabo erupted 20 years ago.
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said the eruption of the volcano on June 15, 1991 almost destroyed everything in Angeles City.
“While we recall the anguish, despair and hopelessness, we will also celebrate the triumph, the success, the resurrection and the rising from the ashes of the Angeleños,” Pamintuan said.
Angeles was considered a doomed city because of the constant threat of lahar flows that buried the city. This was aggravated by the departure of American forces from Clark Air Base.
“Our young people today, and first time visitors of Angeles, would never imagine the travails and tragedies that the people of Angeles faced during that time,” the mayor said.
He recalled that the Angeleños had very little idea about lahar.
“I remember I made a call, as acting mayor then, for us to fortify the banks of the Abacan River, the possible path of the lahar. I thought that if the lahar breached the banks of the river, it will spill over to the nearby communities and ruin our city all the more. I even asked for volunteers,” Pamintuan said.
He said the most spectacular sight and memory of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption was not the giant mushroom of ash that rose kilometers into the atmosphere but the more than 20,000 Angeleños who were in several parallel lines at both banks of the Abacan River, some with picks and shovels, and the rest passing on sandbags that were piled at the river walls to reinforce them from the flow of lahar.
“The spirit of the Angeleños never faltered. Through their resiliency, strength of character, trust in their leaders and faith in God, they survived, stood up and moved forward. They have turned tragedy into triumph,” the mayor added.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2011/06/15/pampanga-moving-full-speed-ahead-161335
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