Cong. Toff honors Late Mayor Al

(Privilege Speech at the House of Representatives honoring the Pinablin Ama na Dagupan (Beloved Father of Dagupan) Alipio Fernandez Jr.)

By REP. CHRISTOPHER DE VENECIA 4th District, Pangasinan

“Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues: I rise on a point of personal and collective privilege to honor Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., a fellow statesman and an esteemed kabaleyan, who died of cancer last August 9, at the age of 75. “Death,” according to Mother Teresa, “is nothing else but going home to God.”

Yet, the passing of Mayor Al Fernandez Jr. last Thursday has caused a deep dent in the hearts of the Dagupeños, because he was so much loved and admired.

CITES - Congressman Christopher de Venecia hails through a privilege speech the late Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, Mayor Al lived a life that was dedicated to service. He was a bright business executive, a devoted public servant, and undoubtedly, one of Dagupan City’s greatest and noblest sons. He also served the country as the Commissioner and Chairman of the Bureau of Immigration from 2004 to 2007. He was also an Undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, from 2001 to 2003.

 To me, Mayor Al would always be an uncle, whose gifts of statesmanship and grace, will always be a source of inspiration. After all, he was one of the bright boys of Jose de Venecia, my father, the five-time Speaker of this august body, who joined him in his oil explorations in the middle-east during the mid- 70s. As a public servant, I can also identify with Mayor Al, who believed that cultural development and preservation are intrinsic in nation-building and economic development.

Mayor Al built the first City Museum of Dagupan that now houses the piano, owned by Leonor Rivera when she lived in Dagupan in 1890 and 1891, and a sizable collection of paintings by another full-blooded Dagupeño, national artist Victorio Edades, among others.

He also launched a local jubilee known as Gilon Gilon Festival in 1997, which served as precursor of the famous Bangus Festival.

 Understanding the importance of his people’s identity, he was also the first mayor, who adopted Dagupan Hymn as the singular music that extols all the aspirations of the Dagupeños.

 Mr. Speaker, Mayor Al was the son of the illustrious Don Alipio Fernandez Sr., who holds the distinction as the last mayor of then municipality of Dagupan and the first mayor when it became a city on June 20, 1947. His achievements however were superseded by his namesake and Junior for if there was one, who, Dagupan City and its people owed so much, it was Mayor Al, whose reign in the city gave more positive impact than anyone else. His political epoch began in 1972 when he was elected as the number one councilor of the City Council. He was also elected as the city vice mayor starting in 1977 up to 1986, in 1987, and from 1988 to 1992.

Then, from 1992 to 2001 and 2007 to 2010, he served as the Mayor of Dagupan. He held that position for twelve years, making him the longest-serving mayor of the city.

As Dagupan city’s chief executive, Mayor Al received many awards:

 ⃝ A Special Citation for Most Business-Friendly LGU award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with German Technical Cooperation in 2009;

 ⃝ Best Component City Disaster Coordinating Council in 2009;

⃝ and the UNICEF’s Child-Friendly City Leadership Award in 1991; among many others.

He also received numerous awards on behalf of the city including:

 ⃝ Most Supportive City Mayor in Sports Development (1988);

 ⃝ Most Supportive City Mayor to Non-Formal Education (1997);

 ⃝ Most Supportive City Mayor in the Implementation of Nutrition Programs (1996-1997);

 ⃝ Progressive Alliance of Citizens for Democracy’s Most Outstanding City Mayor – Urban Category (1995);

 ⃝ and the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Outstanding City Mayor – Urban Category in 1994. Some of the many projects launched by Mayor Al included the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in 2008, Pawil Dagupan Program in 1999, Philhealth Insurance coverage for qualified indigents, the sidewalk recovery and the accreditation of the city’s One Stop Business Center (OSBC). He was also responsible for numerous infrastructure projects such as the City Library, the People’s Astrodome, Senior Citizen Building, City Health Office, the PNP Building, the Market Building at Herrero-Perez and even the welcome arches found in all the entry spots in the city. His most glaring accomplishment however was the stewardship of Dagupan City’s reconstruction after it was decimated by the July 16, 1990 earthquake.

My father, Jose De Venecia is acknowledged as the Architect of Modern Dagupan. But Mayor Al was credited as its Builder, who managed, coordinated and supervised the reconstruction of the city. With the backing of then President Cory Aquino, my father was able to raise P10 billion to fund the massive reconstruction of the areas devastated by the 1990 earthquake, particularly the cities of Baguio, Cabanatuan and Dagupan. During that period of doubt, fear and uncertainty, Mayor Al gave the Dagupeños, love, comfort and solace.

 More importantly, as then City Mayor, he showed them how good governance can move Dagupan forward till it rose from the rubble of the 1990 earthquake, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

 As, a tribute to his immeasurable contributions to Dagupan City, its Sanggunian Panlungsod, in a session last August 10, passed a resolution that formally recognized the late Mayor Alipio “Al” Fernandez, Jr. as Pinablin Ama Na Dagupan, which means “The Beloved Father of Dagupan”.

 Mr. Speaker, Mayor Al lived what he preached. He steered his family to lead a life of service, as exemplified by an award conferred to the Fernandezes by the Jaycees International as Jaycees Outstanding Family for 2012. Mayor Al and his three children: Alfie, Alvin and Anna, including his son-in-law, have all been elected as Jaycee Senators. Now that Mayor Al is finally home with our Creator, the Dagupeños remember him as one of Pangasinan’s true political evergreens, with an abiding fidelity to his city, and the people he loved and served. The real tribute to Mayor Al however was in the line of people who waited in the rain since his passing last August 9, to pay their last respects to the man, who, for them, was synonymous with Dagupan.

His fine examples will live on to thrive in the hearts of his people. After all, Mayor Al was the People’s Mayor, known for his friendly presence in the streets of Dagupan, meeting with fish vendors at the market and discussing anything under the sun, with any Dagupeño.

Moreover, his legacy of abiding service lives on through his wife Elmina David Fernandez and their children: Dr. Alfie Fernandez, Atty. Alvin Fernandez, Lucinda “Dimples” Fernandez-Milla, Nikki Fernandez-Dayrit, and Ana Fernandez- Cunanan. What a magnificent soul it was. We will miss him deeply. Paalam at maraming salamat Mayor Al!