When Quirino came to town (2)

A.Paulita Roa

THE1948 visit of President Elpidio Quirino to then municipality of Cagayan  as written by one Ando Bolanghoy in a local weekly, Ang Katarungan, revealed many interesting facets of that visit that are now part of local contemporary history. He gave quite a lengthy space about the beautuous presidential daughter, Vicky was then the country’s most sought after bachelorette. Her mother, who belonged to the wealthy Syquia family, was killed by Japanese sniper near their residence in Manila when World War II was about to end. Quirino never remarried and so it was Vicky who was the First Lady during his administration.

Bolanghoy noted that Vicky was properly chaperoned by a Mrs. Mary Yotoko Pardo and was joined by the lovely Nena Noble, the daughter of Bukidnon Gov. Albino Noble.The three went to the only bowling alley in town known as the Firmacion Alley. This was owned by Mrs. Carmen “Mameng” Puertas-Firmacion and was near Divisoria. After bowling, they were served halo-halo and Vicky went shopping at the boutique of Mrs. Firmacion next door.

Vicky asked why she did not meet any of Cagayan’s eligible bachelors and that not any of them wanted to befriend them. This was unlike in Cebu and Iloilo where several guys followed her wherever she went. The curt reply from a local belle to her was, “Maybe the guys are too busy with their girls.”

Bolanghoy then speculated that this could be the reason why that evening, when the municipal and provincial officials feted the president with a big ball in the auditorium (this could be the Ateneo de Cagayan gymnasium), all the guests could not help but notice that Vicky looked so out of place as she was dressed in an ordinary jumper and had a big bandage in one leg.

Did she sprain her leg after bowling? Was she tired of all the dancing in each place that she and her father visited? Or was she disappointed that the local guys snubbed her? This led Bolanghoy to address the Kagaya-anon men as “Mga talawan! Maayo lang kamo ibahug sa Huk!” ( You cowards! It would have been better if you were thrown to the mercy of the Huks!) The Huks belonged to the armed Marxist group known as the Hukbalahap that roamed the countryside of Central Luzon and sowed terror among the populace.

Naturally, the well-dressed and elegant women could not hide their disappointment at Vicky for this was a ball held in her honor and that of her father. Some of them made snide remarks like it was as if Vicky went to watch a tapada inside a cockpit. One incensed lady swore that if  Vicky visits Cagayan again, she will wear a swimsuit to the ball.

Since the presidential daughter could not dance because of a bandaged leg, she sat near her father all throughout the ball. While the president only danced twice like the opening and ending of a novena– “sa timaan”  and the “bendito alabado”–what he enjoyed was talking with the governor and the mayor and other prominent men of Cagayan.

Times have changed. Now, no local government gives a big ball to the visiting head of state. Those presidential visits around the country are mostly one day inspection trips and conferences/meetings. Gone are the days when people took time to put on a fancy dress, go to the ball where where they had this golden chance to meet and even dance with the President of our country.