The Lubao municipal government has commemorated the 107th birthday of the late former President Diosdado P. Macapagal yesterday.
Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero was the guest of honor and speaker in the event held at the Diosdado Macapagal Museum in Barangay San Nicolas 1st, where the former president’s bust was erected.
Escudero is the wife of former congressman Salvador Escudero, who was instrumental in the establishment of the museum honoring Macapagal, the first Kapampangan president of the Philippines who was also widely known as the “Poor Boy from Lubao”.
Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab said Macapagal brought pride to residents of Lubao during his term in Malacañang.
Cayabyab said Lubao takes pride in calling Macapagal as her son because of his honest and clean governance when he was Philippine president.
“Sa buong panahon ng kaniyang panunungkulan sa pamahalaan, sa iba’t-ibang posisyong kaniyang tinanganan, maipagmamalaki natin si Cong Dadong dahil sa kaniyang galing at katapatan sa bayan,” Cayabyab said.
“Habang sinasariwa natin ang mga araw ni Cong Dadong, hindi lamang natin dinadakila ang ating dating pangulo sa kaniyang nagawa para sa bawat Filipino, kundi ginigising din natin ang kamulatan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga Lubeño sa karangalang ibinigay sa atin ni Cong Dadong at ng kaniyang pamilya,” Cayabyab added.
The mayor bared plans of collaborating with concerned historical agencies for possible restoration of Macapagal’s old nipa hut to make it sturdier to withstand the elements.
Among the guests in the event were former Pampanga Vice Gov. Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, former Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo and Dr. Rene Escalante of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.