Arroyo’s ‘foster dad’ in Dagupan turns 100

DAGUPAN CITY – President Arroyo’s “foster father,” who was her dad’s bosom buddy, celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday at the Dagupan Stadia with a dinner party with family, friends and business associates.

Now bedridden, Don Pedro Balingit, owner of the city’s oldest pharmacy, Farmacia Balingit, thanked Mrs. Arroyo repeatedly in his recorded audio-visual message shown during the party.

Balingit thanked everyone for coming to his birthday celebration, with special mention of “my foster daughter, President Gloria Arroyo”.

“I want to thank the President for greeting me. I love you,” he said.

Mrs. Arroyo, in a recorded audio-visual message, greeted Balingit, though briefly, and called him “my foster father in Pangasinan.”

The presentation recalled fond memories through pictures of Balingit with the First Couple during their visits here.

Balingit’s son, Albert, a board member of the Land Bank of the Philippines, told The STAR that his dad still has sharp memory and would often mention the President.

During his birthdays, the President consistently greeted the old man, sometimes by phone given her hectic schedule.

The elder Balingit and the President’s father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, belonged to Batch 1929 of the Pampanga National High School.

The best friends were always together, especially when Macapagal campaigned and won as congressman, senator, vice president, and president.

Maca­pagal was the baptismal godfather of Balingit’s son Cecil.

When he was President, Macapagal would sleep at the back of Farmacia Balingit on M.H. del Pilar street whenever he was in Dagupan.

This tradition was passed on to Mrs. Arroyo, as she would also spend the night at the Balingit’s residence in Bonuan Binloc during her visits to this city.

During Christmas and Holy Week, the First Family would come over here to personally greet Don Pedro and give him gifts.

When Farmacia Balingit celebrated its 50th year in 1992, Mrs. Arroyo, then still a senator, was the special guest.

Mrs. Arroyo last saw Don Pedro last Jan. 20 when she stood as a wedding godmother at the St. John the Evangelist Church here.

Due to old age, Balingit’s five children – Siony, Ramon, Albert, Baby and Cecil – were the ones who blew the candle on their dad’s cake.