ASINGAN'S POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Written by Victorio Costes from files by Samuel Soloria, Carl Calderon, Francisco Malala and Celestino Necessito

Asingan has contributed four Congressmen to the political history of the Philippines: Juan Millan, Narcisco Ramos, Justino Benito and Luciano Millan. Juan Millan was a hard working Nacionalista lawmaker who died after the end of his second term. Narciso Ramos, a member of the Liberal Party later became the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Then there was Justino Benito, a brilliant lawyer who was chosen as an outstanding Congressman during his term. The fourth is Luciano Millan ( Asingan Public High School eventually was named after him ) a "fighting" Nationalista Congressman. His record was so good that he was selected to represent the Philippines in the United Nations General Assembly with another brilliant statesman. That statesman's name was Ferdinand Edralin Marcos.

It is said that Ferdinand Marcos came to Asingan a few times. Narciso Ramos, the father of Fidel Ramos and Leticia Ramos-Shahani, was his close relative . He stayed then in a stately house that belongs to the Agsalud family. Mrs. Pura Ramos Agsalud is the sister of Narciso. It is said that Ferdinand Marcos came to Asingan during the war, then as a Senator and finally as a Presidential candidate.


Asingan came to the limelight when Fidel Ramos won the Presidential election many, many years later. A month before the election, I was in Asingan to attend the town fiesta. I saw him with many bodyguards and friends participating in the TARAY ASINGAN. Back in Toronto, I was elated a month later when I heard that finally, a townmate of ours became the President of the Philippines. His sister also won a senatorial seat. However, there are a few townspeople from Lingayen, Pangasinan who claim that Lingayen is the true hometown of Pres. Ramos since his mother is from this town and he was born in this provincial capital. Some say Fidel Ramos finished his Elementary schooling in Lingayen and his teachers say he had shown a promising capacity for leadership. I gathered these stories when I visited Lingayen during one of my balik-bayan holidays.

However, the fact remains that Pres. Ramos and Sen. Leticia Shahani have residences ( rather vacation houses ) here in Asingan.And many schools in town are renamed after their parents.

Rafael Colet is another addition to the Who's Who in Asingan's Hall of Fame. Rafael Colet once served as the governor of Pangasinan. Ranjit Shahani, the son of Leticia Ramos Shahani has also served as a Congressman for the 5th District of Pangasinan.

You might have seen ( or heard ) of two towering Narra trees at the Mayor's gate at the south side of the town plaza. The seedlings which grew into these gigantic trees were brought over from Dapitan, Zamboanga by an Asinganian, Professor Jose Blando. It is said that the seedlings came from the narra tree planted by our country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. He planted this tree while he was in exile in Dapitan. The last time I saw the trees, they are already dead but I know they witnessed the unfolding of Asingan from a small settlement into a bustling community belonging to the second millennium. I remember Asingan during the 50's, 60's and '70s. It was a "sleepy" community. Now a days, it seems Asingan hardly sleeps at all. Resorts with modern swimming pools and picnic areas sprung up in the poblacion and in many barrios. Night life in town would be a visit to countless "Karaoke" bars which are open 7 days ( or rather 7 nights ) a week.. Apartels and Hotels are established for transients and visitors. Tricycles come and go out of town almost the whole night. You can even text a tricycle to come to your doorstep if you have a cell phone, assuming the driver have a cell of his own.

Thus the story of Asingan continues with the passage of time and history. Its townspeople come and go like the waves at the beach. But like the beach, Asingan does not go away. It is always there, patiently awaiting for her visiting sons and daughters from all over the world.

THE END.


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