Pangasinan's Palaro

Now the real work begins.

The province of Pangasinan is once again hosting the Palarong Pambansa, beating out sports heavyweights Laguna and Marikina in the final round of bidding. But the vision of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. is to dovetail the annual multi-sport student competition with the Pista’y Dayat (Festival of the Sea) and make a grand showcase of the province’s hospitality and abundance. This will also bring to the mainstream public’s attention the groundbreaking change the general has made since assuming office. There is much more to Pangasinan than the Hundred Islands and Our Lady of Manaoag.

“In 1995, the governor was in charge of finishing the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center for the Palaro,” recalls provincial administrator Rafael Baraan. “Because the budget had been held up by the provincial government at the time, he only had 49 days to complete the facilities. Nobody slept. He finished the job, and some people still consider that the best Palaro.”

That hurried masterpiece has undergone many facelifts, and gained fame as the venue for the opening of the Metropolitan Basketball Association in 1998, an event attended by then-President Fidel Ramos. The surroundings have also undergone surprising transformations. The provincial capitol, which lay dormant for almost two decades, is now a showcase of the province’s political and historical heritage, restored to its full glory prior to World War II. In fact, visitors are welcome to go to the governor’s office (once used as a storage room) any time, 24 hours a day, and take pictures or just enjoy the ambience. The rooftop viewing deck is also open 24 hours a day.

In front of the capitol, the formerly decrepit playground is now a beautiful public park, with a permanent outdoor exhibit of World Warr II memorabilia. Unknown to many, Lingayen Gulf was Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s first stop before Leyte, where he fulfilled his promise “I shall return.” Even vintage warcraft such as tanks and an old Japanese zero and anti-aircraft guns have found new life as a reminder of the fight for freedom, which Pangasinan’s guerrillas played a large part in.

Espino is no stranger to development or history. In 1972, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Philippine Military Academy, which he followed up with a Masters Degree in Development Management from Pangasinan State University in 1995. In between, he climbed up the ranks of the Philippine National Police, with a broad range of experience in intelligence and operations, criminal investigation, and as regional commander all over Luzon. With his organizational skills and passion for development, he then entered politics as a two-time representative of the second district of Pangasinan, the province courted by most national candidates, having the largest numbers of voters concentrated in one area.

Sports development is one of Espino’s priorities, along with tourism and investments promotions; environmental protection, and hosting of national and international events. The Narciso Ramos Center’s facility’s basketball gym is currently undergoing renovation, and the provincial government has added a 1,500-seat training center next door, in the capitol complex. A golf course is also being built a few kilometers away, and several resort developments have been started all over the province. Gradually, word of mouth is starting to bring attention to the beaches of the large province known for its bangus and seafood production. Dagupan City has become an educational hub for Luzon, as the best schools have built campuses there.

Under Espino’s watch, Pangasinan is finally living up to its potential as a resort destination. The Capitol Beach Resort in Lingayen has been spruced up, and Espino, a golfer, added a driving range facing the sea. The range will serve as the archery venue for the Palaro. Espino has also spearheaded a plan to extend the runway of the little-used Lingayen airport, to encourage tourism. Aquatic sports will also get a boost, with the province’s large-scale dredging and tree-planting projects along beaches and waterways, most notably along the breathtaking Limahong Channel, which zigzags lazily across that part of the province. The giant Padyak Pinoy or Le Tour de Filipinas had one of its biggest stages in Pangasinan, and received rave reviews.

The Palarong Pambansa itself will most likely be moved back a couple of weeks to end in the first week of May, in time for Pangasinan’s signature festival, the Pista’y Dayat. In this year’s edition, entertainment programs of both ABS-CBN and GMA held their live telecasts during the weeklong celebration from April 23 to May 3. With a little more support, the festival will become a red-letter vacation along the likes of Sinulog, Kadayawan, Masskara, Kasadya and others. The provincial government’s sports and tourism promotion offices also held boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, and traditional games competitions as well, not to mention street dancing, singing and youth events on the environment.

“Sports is very important to the governor’s programs,” says provincial Public Information officer Butch Velasco. “The governor see the value of sports in development, helping keep peace and order, and maximizing the talents of the citizenry. He is, in fact, looking for athletes to represent the province on the national and international level, and the province already has the training facilities.”

With the political will, resources and passion for sports shown by its leaders, Pangasinan is on a mission to raise the bar for organizing the Palarong Pambansa, and engender openness and support from the general public. We wish them the best.