EPILOGUE

Dasmarias will always be sufficiently

ambitious:
fortitude
and
hardcore
determination
will
always
be
its
trademarks. Sulong na, Sulong pa
Lungsod
ng
Dasmarias!
(Onward,
Forward, City of Dasmarias!)
-Excerpt from Philippine Star
City of Dasmarias
2nd Founding Anniversary
November 26, 2011

Transformation and New Beginnings

At the beginning of this book we tell about the
Paru-Paro Festival celebrated by Dasmarineos
every 26th of November to commemorate the
ratification of the Citys Charter. We believe that the
city government found in the butterfly an apt symbol
of the citys own transformation. Like the butterfly
that first starts out as a really small and round egg
which then transforms itself into a tiny worm-like
creature called a caterpillar then molts into a mostly
brown or green chrysalis before finally turning into a
very colorful butterfly, the City of Dasmarias was
transformed from a small visita during the Spanish
era into an independent municipality under the
Americans and then a bustling and highly-urbanized
city of today.
Our interest was drawn into this remarkable story
of transformation that set off our decision to
conclude that the story is worth retelling. That is the
reason for this book.

pg. 1

Sulong Na
This book has established that the goal of making
Dasmarias a city was not a spontaneous
undertaking. In as early as 1989, officials of the
municipality led by Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan made
a conscious effort, spearheaded by Vice-Mayor Dino
Macayan and his committee, to make the town
eligible for cityhood. Back then they already knew
that the rate of growth and progress would require
the resources and structures that only cityhood could
provide. We do not know their individual intentions
and this book did not delve into that, but, when
Dasmarias became eligible in 1995, they spared no
time and efforts to make the goal a reality. Of course
they failed to achieve the towns collective dream of
cityhood. There is, however, no denying that these
town officials were the ones who initiated the process
of cityhood. To them rightfully belongs the distinction
of being the first to chart the course towards that
direction.
High in the list of the Dasmarineos who made
the cityhood dream a reality is Congressman Elpidio
Pidi Barzaga. Initially against it, Congressman
Barzaga more than made up for his early opposition
when he relentlessly pushed for the project until its
successful completion. He made two attempts for
cityhood when he was the Municipal Mayor and made
a third one when he was Congressman.
Whether one is a supporter or a critic, there is no
arguing to the fact that it took someone of his caliber
and dedication to get the job done. Congressman
Dragon made the attempt but his lack of support in
the Senate doomed the project. The fact that he was
at odds with Senator Ernesto Maceda who was then
the influential Senate President, aggravated the
pg. 2

situation. Congressman Maliksis demonstration of

eagerness and all-out support was not enough to
brighten the prospect of cityhood for Dasmarias, for
he also failed. While Municipal Mayor, Pidi Barzaga
also failed to advance the cause.
Congressman
Barzaga,
however,
persisted.
Knowing that political influence in the Philippine
Congress is the key to achieving the towns elusive
dream; he ran and secured membership to the House
of Representatives. Once there, he built for himself a
reputation for competence and hard work. With his
growing brilliant reputation, he was able to associate
himself with other members of the House of
Representatives who wielded influence in the lower
house. Association with equally influential Senators
followed, then the Executive Department and with no
less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself.
The connection with the former President proved
to be the key factor in gaining the support of
Senators previously opposed to the project.
Congressman Barzaga relates how she called them
up Senator Enrile and Estrada informing them of her
support for the Dasmarias cause and instructing
them to do likewise. She also directed them to
convince Senator Bong Revilla of the futility of his
opposition. He was firm in his belief, without denying
his and efforts and those of the Dasmarineos, that
the success of the whole undertaking could be
attributed to the former President. These were the
missing ingredients to the three previous failed
attempts to cityhood. Congressman Barzaga, with
sheer determination and hard work sought, found,
and made use of them.
When the past and incumbent officials of
Dasmarias
demonstrated
commitment
and
persistence in their pursuit of the elusive cityhood
dream, it endeared them to the Dasmarineos. The
pg. 3

residents reciprocated with the same determination,

persistence, flexibility, and passion in supporting that
dream. They all knew what benefits cityhood would
bring to their municipality. Most of all they never
wavered in their belief that the town had long been
eligible for that esteemed status. Setting aside their
differences, it removed the roadblocks that
prevented them from acting in a unified and
consistent manner. When the time to ratify the City
Charter came, they eagerly welcomed it by their
affirmative vote.
Sulong Pa Lungsod ng Dasmarias!
Whats next for Dasmarias, a highly-urbanized
city status? This was one of the questions addressed
by Congressman Barzaga during an interview on July
4, 2014. Dasmarias, he replied, became a city only
four years ago and it was too soon to consider
elevating to a highly-urbanized status and it has not
yet reaped and enjoyed all the benefits accruing to it
as a component city.
Although the highly-urbanized-city status is the
next logical step, the main concern of the city
administration right now, he said, was the fulfillment
of the promises made to all of the Citys
stakeholders. For now, he said, the main thrust of the
city government is making the City business-friendly.
By this he meant that the investors should find
investing in Dasmarias not only profitable but also a
pleasant experience, i.e., making the process of
investing easy and rewarding. He, however, rue the
fact that agricultural sector, once the pride of
Dasmarias, was adversely affected by the increased
industrialization of the City. Lands used for food
production shrank as farmers chose to convert their
farms into subdivisions or industrial areas for more
profits.
pg. 4

So whats next for Dasmarias? Congressman Pidi

says a lot is in store for the City. Meanwhile, he
advises everyone to just for the moment enjoy its
newly-acquired status.

pg. 5