Today we commemorate the 77th Founding Anniversary of Dagupan City.
On this day, the last speaker of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and first duly elected House Speaker of the 1st Congress of the Philippines, then Speaker Eugenio Perez Sr. authored Republic Act 170 or the City Charter of Dagupan which then President Manuel Roxas signed into law on June 20, 1947 that converted Dagupan into a city.
There is so much to say, but I would rather ask everyone here to look around, and you would know what our coming together here means.
There is a saying, “if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. “
Sa Dagupan, araw araw kong pinipili ang makasama at paglingkuran ang pamilyang Dagupeño. Our identity as a city is found in community, in every family, as is our sense of peace and hope.
For all of us, no matter the shape of our families, you can expect a compassionate leadership that is intentional, inclusive, and conscientious. Hindi lang ngayon ninyo matutunghayan kundi araw-araw niyong masasaksihan na nakatutok ang buong puwersa ng Dagupan — ang ating mga Barangay officials, mga barangay volunteers, ang ating mga doktor at nurses, ang mga kawani ng gobyerno, sa paglilingkod sa bawat pamilya, anuman ang hugis o anyo nito — at kasama diyan ang mga pamilyang itinataguyod ng mga mahihirap, ng mga single parents, ng mga LGBTQ, mga walang hanap buhay, mga pamilyang naghihikahos at walang kakayahan mapag-aral ang kanilang mga anak sa kolehiyo, mga pamilyang kapos sa pera na malapatan ng mabisang gamot at mabigyan ng libreng pagsusuri.
Today, we offer under one roof, as many services we can give for every family. You have always depended on the city government to do this because we are a people who value results over excuses.
Marami nang pagbabago ang naisagawa mula noong ako ay unang makapaglingkod bilang inyong mayor noong 2013. Hindi lang natin hinangad na makapaglingkod sa bawat pamilya, kundi hangad din po nating makiisa sa puso ng bawat Dagupeño.
Namumuhunan tayo sa tagumpay ng mga pangarap at mga panaginip ng bawat pamilya. In Dagupan, we support the dreams of every family, including the dream of every child who deserves to experience life in all its fullness, and this includes the right to early childhood development and pre-primary support and literacy, to free public education. We are committed to make sure that our people are provided with the proper services.
In Dagupan, we highly value the happiness and welfare of families because we are partners. Sa paglipas ng halos 77 years mula ng tayo ay hinirang bilang isang malaya at maunlad na lungsod, pinakamakahulugan ang ating mga serbisyo na hinahatid sa bawat pamilyang Dagupeños, because we always underscore the significance of the gift of families as the mightiest symbol of Dagupan’s strength and progress.
As your city mayor, you will expect that we shall always be at the forefront of strengthening and supporting families to nurture, protect, educate, and equip children for a dynamic, challenging, and ever-changing world. We will strengthen social and health programs for our youth, women and children, for senior citizens, for differently abled people, for those who are unemployed, for those who struggling to keep their communities clean and safe.
Sa ating pagsasama-sama ngayon, lagi nating aalalahanin na walang makapipigil at walang makabibigo sa ating hangarin na hatiran ng paglilingkod ang bawat pamilyang Dagupeño, because we will ensure that Dagupan shall always be livable for people of all ages, for every member of the family, because our prosperity in the long term depends on it. Families are worth prioritizing because we are particularly invested in the success of our communities.
Perhaps the best indication of a thriving city is the desire of ordinary people to raise their families within it. Today, thousands of families of 178,000 Dagupenos have chosen to call our city their home because we bring to them, straight to their doors, to their bedside, all the services they rightfully deserve. We are doing all of these because if we are to remain strong into the future, families should have a great city to call home, and Dagupan should have loving families to call residents.
As we gather here to honor this important moment in our history, let us not forget the hardship and the dedication and commitment of our forefathers. Let me take this opportunity to remind my fellow public servants —- our elected officials, my fellow workers in government, to always commit their services with love, so we can properly deliver the needs of our people.
Through our local history and shared experiences, we have always assured ourselves that no matter how uncertain the future remains, we know that our strong sense of solidarity and cooperation will always lead us to greater feats.
Sa Dagupan, heto na po ang bagong marka ng isang mapagkalinga na pamahalaan. Isang pamahalaan na may pagdamay sa kung ano ang pinakamahalaga at pinakamatimbang sa puso ng bawat Dagupeno: ang alagaan at mahalin ang kanyang pamilya.
Sa harap ng maraming hamon at pagsubok, pangungutya at pambabastos ng iilang taong walang pagpapahalaga sa ating mga gawain, hindi tayo matitinag.
Bago ang pumutok ang araw, palagi ko inilalapit sa Panginoong Diyos na lagi akong turuan na makapaglingkod ng tama, maayos at mahusay.
Panalangin ko lagi sa Panginoon na mabigyan tayo ng sapat na lakas, ng matatag na puso na hindi pinanghihinaan.
Panalangin ko na hindi lamang tayo gabayan na maging magaling sa lahat ng bagay, panalangin ko rin mabigyan tayo lagi ng isang mabuting puso.
Mabuting puso ang dalangin ko, dahil ito po lamang ang aking maibibigay ng buo sa bawat pamilyang Dagupeno: isang pusong tapat sa paglilingkod.
Dahil kapag ang isang lider at isang pamahalaan ay naglilingkod ng tapat, makikinabang ang lahat.
Maraming salamat po at Maligayang Agew na Dagupan!
Mayor Belen’s Speech during the 77th Agew na Dagupan
Dagupan City Plaza, June 20, 2024
