CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – After much controversy, the portraits of 15
past governors of this province are back at the lobby of the provincial capitol.
But as if to convey lament over the alleged failure of the provincial board to approve P1 million funds requested by the office of Gov. Eddie Panlilio, gaps between the portraits have been reserved for 11 other governors whose portraits could have been painted from the funds.
Nameplates of the “missing” governors were placed under blank spaces reserved for their portraits that were supposed to be arranged chronologically from the walls at the two stairways up to the second floor lobby of the capitol building here.
The 15 portraits stirred controversy after they vanished from the
walls in August last year.
Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said that the office of the governor had virtually hostaged the portraits amid its request for a P1 million supplemental budget.
Guiao noted that since the 1970’s the portraits of past Pampanga governors have been displayed at the capitol lobby, with more being added after the term of a governor.
“It’s a way of showing respect for the past chief executives of Pampanga,” said Guiao whose father, the late Gov. Bren Z. Guiao, had served as governor during the term of Pres. Corazon Aquino.
He said he was surprised to find out that the portraits were stacked up at the ceiling of the Benigno Aquino Hall which houses the provincial tourism office at the capitol grounds.
Guiao noted that while the portraits vanished in August last year, it was only in March this year that Panlilio wrote to the provincial board seeking P1 million supplemental funds reportedly for the rehabilitation of the portraits and the painting of 11 other governors who had no portraits.
“It was rather strange that the request came only last March,” he noted, adding that the purported intent to rehabilitate the portraits apparently conflicted with their being stacked up at a ceiling where they were “exposed to rats and cockroaches that could lead to their faster deterioration.”
Provincial tourism officer Ian Mejia said that despite the non-approval of the P1 million, the portraits were restored at the capitol lobby last Tuesday, with the nameplates of all past 26 Pampanga governors arranged chronologically. Spaces were reserved for those without portraits, creating gaps between the portraits.
