GMA opens photo exhibit on 100th year of Cong Dadong

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines – President Arroyo led yesterday ceremonies commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of her father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, during her visit to this province.

The President formally opened the photo exhibit of the former President entitled “The Life and Times of President Diosdado P. Macapagal: A Photo Exhibit” held at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) here.

The exhibit showcases a collection of 100 photographs that essays the life of Macapagal, who is called “Apung Dadong” by his cabalens (provincemates), as a student, a lawyer, a family man and as a public servant.

The exhibit, which coincides with the 48th founding anniversary of the AUF, also features books and other personal mementos written by Apung Dadong, who celebrates his centenary on Sept. 28.

Through the exhibit, the AUF aims to perpetuate the legacy of Macapagal as a stateman “imbued with untainted integrity, extraordinary honesty and unquestionable commitment to duty,” officials said.

In her speech keynoting the event, Mrs. Arroyo expressed her thanks to the AUF for their efforts to keep the memory of her father alive.

“Our family is grateful that you remembered Diosdado Macapagal not only as President of the country but very fondly as chairman of the board of directors (of AUF) until his death in 1997,” the President said.

“Thank you for honoring his legacy not only as chairman of the Board but also as President. His legacy is now going to be remembered because you are helping enable Filipinos for generations to come to his life and times, and his contributions to the Filipino nation, and to be able to remember both memories from an objective and historical point of view, and also through those who knew him during his lifetime,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo expressed hope that historians, scholars and the academe will continue perpetuating the life and times of her father by studying further “the personal papers that he and my mother left, particularly here at Angeles University and Clark, and with their alma matter, the University of Santo Tomas, and also the books he authored after his term as President.”

She cited Commission on Higher Education chairman and AUF board member Emmanuel Angles as “one of these scholars” who continue to keep the memory of her father alive.

“I hope that the Diosdado Macapagal Foundation which has been recently reconstituted and where Manny (Angeles) is a member will be able to marshal the proper scholars to document his lasting contributions to our nation,” she said.