Special non-working day in Pangasinan tomorrow

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan , Philippines  – Malacañang has declared April 5 as a special non-working day in the province of Pangasinan as the province celebrates its 430th founding anniversary.

Through proclamation number 2033 signed on March 31 by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza in behalf of President Arroyo declaring April 5(Monday) as a non-working holiday which marks as the foundation day anniversary of Pangasinan.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Pangasinan be given full opportunity to celebrate the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation said.

On Feb. 15 this year, Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. signed the provincial ordinance declaring and citing April 5,1580 as the official foundation day of this province.

Espino signed the ordinance immediately after it was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas.

Various activities have been lined-up for the first-ever celebration of the province’s founding anniversary.

Some of the activities to highlight the celebration will be the inauguration and blessing of the newly-upgraded Sison Auditorium after the thanksgiving Mass; and the groundbreaking of the Lingayen Eco-Tourism Zone in barangay Estanza.

Espino will lead in the unveiling of the new provincial seal and historical marker that will show the year 1580 as the foundation date of the province.

More than a year ago, Espino formed a research and study committee through an executive order that will look for the date of the province’s foundation.

The committee composed of representatives from the provincial government, historical and cultural organizations, academe and media with Dr. Gonzalo Duque, president of the Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU), as chairman.

The committee unanimously recommended “the declaration of April 5, 1580 as the official founding day of the province of Pangasinan to commemorate two historic events in its existence. The date April 5 to commemorate the day when Pangasinan became an encomienda and 1580 to commemorate the year it became a province.”

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Pangasinan’s most illustrious son, will lead the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Pangasinan Eco-tourism zone in Barangay Estanza, Lingayen at 9:30 a.m.

Pangasinan’s sons and daughters who excelled in various fields of endeavors will be recognized and awarded in the first-ever Asna Awards at the Sison Auditorium at 7 p.m., according to the organizers.

According to Pangasinan Heritage Society President Arabela Arcinue, and chair of the Asna Awards Committee, Asna is an old form of the Pangasinan word Asin which usually describes the good quality of a man’s character or his demeanor.