LINGAYEN, Pangasinan (PIA)— The Provincial Government of Pangasinan observed the 125th Philippine Independence Day by paying tribute to the seventh governor of the province, Don Daniel Maramba, a local hero dubbed as the “Grand Old Man of Pangasinan.”

In a solemn and simple ceremony held on Monday at the Sison Auditorium here, Governor Ramon Guico III said the provincial government decided to pay tribute to Maramba to remember his heroism that contributed to the liberation of the country.

“We took a different approach to the celebration of our Independence Day today,  to commemorate the life, works, and efforts of our local heroes because it seems that we have forgotten them, who have contributed a lot to the liberation not only of the province but the whole country,” Guico said.

Don Daniel Bautista Maramba was the municipal president (or mayor) of Sta. Barbara town from 1907 to 1908 and served as governor of Pangasinan from 1916 to 1922. 

He is also Katipunero, as well as a congressman and senator that steered the province into greatness as the richest province in the country during his time.

Guico said it was also Maramba who initiated the construction of the Provincial Capitol Building in April 1917.

He said it was also during the time of Maramba that Pangasinan became the rice granary of the country and the first to pave the provincial roads with asphalt.

With so many contributions not only to the province, Guico said it is just right that Pangasinan should learn from Maramba and give honor to his willingly-endured hardships so that Pangasinenses could live in peace.

“We can never move forward if we don’t know our past, because the past or history can always teach us to make wiser decisions for the present and for the future,” Guico said.

Likewise, Guico reminded all Pangasinenses to contribute to nation-building by learning and thinking of the past, acting on the present, and securing the future of the province and of the country. 

He also asked the public to be united in fighting the present oppressors such as poverty, ignorance, and illegal acts, among others, for a more progressive Pangasinan.

“Isantabi po natin ang self-interest and work together for the common interest,” Guico added.

This year, the official theme for the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Independence celebration is “Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan”. (JCR/MJTAB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)