Macasa said he felt he
had to help the campus journalists re-kindle their passion for
writing.
He invited some media
specialists as speakers to inspire the young writers.
As Calbayog also
celebrates the 120th birthday of then Senate President, Macasa also
invited the granddaughter of Avelino, Ms. Loudette Avelino, who acted
as the Guest Speaker.
Loudette is now based
in New York and goes back periodically to Calbayog to perpetuate the
legacy of her ‘Lolo’. The lady had fond memories of Avelino who was a
doting grandfather and expected excellence from his heirs.
The younger Avelino
also ushered this writer to Calbayog’s ‘Handumanan’ where a photo
exhibit of the life and times of Avelino were proudly displayed.
Photos displayed
included his Malacañang sorties, meetings with senators that included
the first woman senator Geronima Pecson in an undated photo.
The writer also
chanced upon a group of school children crowding at the exhibit. They
were awed at the thought that a Calbayognon like them almost became a
president of the country.
According to Wikepedia,
José Dira Avelino (August 5, 1890 - July 21, 1986) was the first
President of the Senate of the
First Republic
of the Philippines under the presidency of Manuel Roxas. He was
President Pro-tempore to President Manuel Quezon prior to the
establishment of the Commonwealth.
Avelino was born in
Calbayog, Samar to Ildefonsa Dira and Baltazar Avelino. He is known as
the Father of the Philippine Workmen’s Compensation Law; one of the
most famous bills which he passed during his term which focused on
creating a contingency insurance fund for workers as a way to protect
the workers from the various economic problems that plagued the
post-war economy.
Avelino also
founded the first labor union in Eastern Visayas, Gremio Obrero de
Stevedores; he is a founding member of the Liberal Party; he was
instrumental in the passage of the Social Security System and pushed
for the establishment of public high schools in every province in the
Philippines. (PIA-Samar)
Related Article:
Remembering Jose Avelino: A heartbeat away from the presidency
