BY REX C. CATUBIG
Prelude to Dagupan’s 79th songs of my city
In 2015, as part of my high school Class of 65’s Golden Jubilee, I wrote a marching song as our gift for the City. Red Erick Narvas, whom I discovered and worked with for the 2009 Balikbayan night chaired by Councilor Karlos Reyna, composed the music, and the DCNHS Student Choir and Maribel Diolazo’s Koro Dagupeno recorded the song.
When the Hermano Mayor, Joeyboy Atty Tamayo II, heard it, he endorsed it to Mayor Belen T Fernandez who listened to it in a private audience, and when she liked what she heard, it was made the official theme of the City Fiesta’s Opening Ceremony on Dec 4, 2015.
The song Balon Kabuasan was inspired by the Mayor Belen’s slogan, “Balon Dagupan” and is a vibrant rousing, rallying song, in stark contrast to the sentimental Dagupan Hymn that I wrote in 1987.
That fateful December, the Sangguniang Panlungsod enacted an ordinance adopting the current composition as well as the earlier hymn, the official songs of Dagupan.
The Dagupan Hymn is actually the song highlight of Pandaragupan, an epic theater pageant I conceived and directed that showcased Dagupan’s history and culture. It was Dagupan Jaycees’, under Tito Meneses, cultural contribution for the 1987 City Fiesta.
How the Pandaragupan theme song evolved into the Dagupan Hymn goes a long way.
Upon the return as Mayor of Al Fernandez in 2007, he instructed his son Alvin who was the City Admin to “have a song that shall be sung in all public activities that shall symbolize the love for Dagupan”.
Alvin sought the assistance of then City Schools Superintendent Aurora Tiu Domingo–who told him “that there is such a song written by Rex Catubig”, Alvin narrated.
“At that time, Pong Mendoza and Jean Llamas had been hired by Mayor Al to form a Dagupan City Chorale composed of City Hall Employees. I requested them to update the song’s arrangement following the original lyrics”, Alvin explained.
Its original choral arrangement was written by Romeo Macabento at the instance of Division Music Supervisor Narcisa Cornel who was with the Dagupan City Chorale headed by First Lady Dr Fe Cruz Manaois. But it was the Singing Cursillistas, who sang the song in its premiere performance.
Alvin further wrote that “to instill love of Dagupan, Mayor Al issued an Executive Order mandating the singing of the Dagupan Hymn following the National Anthem”
“CDs were made and distributed to all schools and government agencies in Dagupan. They were also given to Overseas Dagupenos, and the CD became a staple gift to official guests of Dagupan.”
“Mayor Al was very specific in his instructions that to sow the seeds of love for Dagupan, every Dagupeno must put into heart the Dagupan Hymn”, Alvin noted. Which probably explained why a framed copy of the hymn was prominently displayed in the foyer of the City Hall during his term.
But when Benjie Lim won over incumbent Mayor Al, the hymn was downplayed, the framed copy taken down. Mayor Benjie intimated to me that he found the song too pensive. He asked me repeatedly to write another that was more upbeat. Unfortunately, there was a tragic turn of events before I could work on it.
Until the opportune time of Balon Kabuasan came, and Dagupan Hymn regained its footing.
A couple of years ago, as Chairman of the Committee on Arts and Culture, Councilor Dennis Canto took the next step and authored an ordinance passed by the Sanggunian, requiring the singing of the Dagupan Hymn in all public functions. Balon Kabuasan remains a companion or alternate piece.
My love song for Dagupan has traversed time and clime. From my passionate heart, it has nestled in the hearts of every enamored Dagupeno. And there’s no purer joy than to hear school children sing it.
Its soaring melody and nostalgic lyrics never fail to pinch my heart and instill renewed pride in the city of my birth.