SINO SI TOMAS DIONES DIZON ?

Isang may kabataang pang abogado ang minsan ay nagtanong sa may akda ng ulat
na ito, kung bakit ang gusaling panghukuman na ipinatayo ng Pangasiwaang Lunsod ng
San Pablo ay tinatawag ngayong Don Tomas D. Dizon Hall of Justice?
Sang-ayon kay Bb. Cresenciana de Luna, isang retiradong guro, si Tomas Diones
Dizon, ay isa sa mga anak ng Bayan ng San Pablo noon na nagkaroon ng
pagkakataong makapag-aral ng batas at naging isang abogado. Siya ay isinilang noong
Setyembre 18, 1887 sa noon ay Baryo ng San Nicolas na unang naluklok sa
katungkulang pampamahalaan nang siya ay mahalal na Punonglalawigan ng Laguna
na nanungkulan noong mga Taong 1928 - 1932. At pagkatapos nito, siya ay nahalal na
Kinatawan ng Unang Distrito ng Laguna sa Philippine National Assembly sa apat na
sunod-sunod na panahon
Bilang kagawad ng Asemblyang Pambansa ng Pilipinas (Philippine National
Assembly) na pinanguluhan noon ni Speaker Jose Y. Yulo, si Tomas Dizon ang
umakda ng Batas Komonwelt Bilang 520 na nagkakaloob ng Karta ng Pagkalunsod sa
Bayan ng San Pablo.
Magugunitang ng ipagdiwang ng Lunsod ng San Pablo ang 53 rd Charter Anniversary
noong Mayo 7, 1993 ay itinatag ni Alkalde Vicente B. Amante ang Don Tomas D. Dizon
Statemanship Award sa karangalan ng namayapang mambabatas na ang
pinagkalooban ng karangalan ay si RTC Executive Judge Bienvenido V. Reyes, at Merit
awards ang ipinagkaloob kina Dr. Juan B. Hernandez para sa hometown history, Dr.
Vidal Raymundo para sa medical practice; at Lion Eduardo Lim para sa community
services and entrepreneurship.
Para sa maraming nakasubaybay sa buhay ni Tomas Dizon, ang kanyang
kadakilaan bilang lingkod bayan ay kanyang ipinadama sa kanyang pagtanggap ng
pananagutang Talagang Punonglunsod sa panahon ng kagipitan, una ay noong mga
Taong 1943 hanggang 1946 sa panahon ng pananakop ng mga Hapon ng walang
tumanggap ng tungkulin dahil sa ang talagang punonglunsod noon, si Dr. Manuel A.
Quisumbing, ay kinailangang magtago matapos mapag-alaman ng mga
tagapangasiwaang Hapon na siya ay lihim na tumutulong sa kilusan ng mga gerilya sa
Lunsod ng San Pablo at Lalawigan ng Laguna.
Ang kamalayan ni Tomas Dizon sa batas, at tamang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga
tagapangasiwaang Hapon ang nakatulong upang maraming anak ng lunsod ang
nailigtas ang buhay sa hinalang sila ay tagapagtaguyod kung hindi man tuwirang kaanib
ng alin mang kilusan o pangkatin ng gerilya sa lalawigan.
Maituturing ding kadakilaan ni Tomas Dizon na noong mga Taong 1954 hangang
1955, ng kaigtingan ng pagkilos ng kinikilala noong Hukbong Magpapalaya sa Bayan
(HMB) na mahigpit na kumakaaway sa pamahalaan, ay muli niyang inako ang pagiging
“appointed City Mayor” na ang humirang sa kanya ay mismong si Pangulong Ramon
Magsaysay noon, at sa ilalim ng kanyang pangangasiwa naisagawa ang unang
paghalal ng punonglunsod. Siya ay namayapa noong Enero 27, 1966.
Tomas Diones Dizon. Isang Mason, Isang Mambabatas, Isang Punong
Tagapagpaganap, at higit sa lahat, Isang Tunay na Makabayan.
Tomas Diones Dizon, isang Taas Noong San Pableño, isang Namumukod Tanging
Lagunense. (Ruben E. Taningco)
 DOÑA LEONILA (MINI-FOREST) PARK

What is now known as Doña Leonila (Mini-Forest) Park overlooking the

Sampaloc Lake is actually a portion of the site for the City Hall Complex purchased in
1937 by the Municipal Government of San Pablo headed by President Inocencio
Barleta, which was partly developed after the termination of World War II under the
administration of appointed City Mayor, Dr. Fernando A. Bautista.

During the incumbency of elected Mayor Lauro D. Dizon Sr., with the help of the
Rotary Club of San Pablo, and under the supervision of Dr. Juan B. Hernandez, then
club secretary of the local Rotary Club and Chairman of the City Beautification
Committee, constructed some park structures at the park, with the fountain featuring
the country lass with agriculture harvest as centerpiece.

Probably, Hernandez and then City Engineer Perfecto Reyes were inspired by
the figures affixed on the façade of the City Hall Building which symbolizes progress.

Sometimes on April of 1961 when then President Carlos Garcia made an official
visit to San Pablo, when the party dropped-by the park to breath some fresh air, City
Mayor Lauro D. Dizon Sr. proclaimed that the garden by the city hall overlooking the
lake are being named “Doña Leonila Park” in honor of then First Lady, Mrs. Leonila D.
Garcia.

During the first term in office of Mayor Cesar P. Dizon, the City Beautification
Committee headed by Architect Gilda G. Dizon, the City’s First Lady, and City Schools
Superintendent Concepcion D. Licsi introduces massive improvement on the park with
the construction of promenaders’ lane, which is actually a view deck, put-up park
lightings system, and other park fixtures. In 1975 to 1977, San Pableños were not
aware that slide photos of the park taken by then Public Information Officer Ruben E.
Taningco for the Department of Public Information-Region IV were being flashed on
television screen by Manila television stations to accompany good weather reports.

Toilet were added during the incumbency of OIC Mayor Zacarias A. Ticzon,
when the park was declared a mini-forest park by then Bureau of Forest Development
Director Delfin Ganapin Sr. on June 7, 1987 under the Urban Reforestation Program of
President Corazon C. Aquino. Massive landscaping were undertaken in 2003-2004 by
the City Tourism and Cultural Office headed by the City’s First Lady, Mrs. Leila A.
Aquino. The stage constructed at the park routinary serve as venue for receiving and
entertaining official guests of the city during the incumbency of Mayor Florante L.
Aquino.
PRESIDENTE MARCIAL ALIMARIO,
MABUTING LIDER NG KANYANG PANAHON

Sa kalipunan ng mga ulat na natipon nina G. Moises Belen, at G.

Evaristo Belen, na kapuwa kinikilalang “Alagad ng Wika,” ay ipinalalagay
na si Don Marcial Alimario ang isa sa pinakamasipag na naging Presidente
Municipal ng dating Municipio ng San Pablo.

Nanungkulan noong mga Taong 1914 hanggang 1916, sa panahon ng

panunungkulan ni Presidente Marcial Alimario naipatayo sa loteng
donasyon ni Cabesang Sixto Bautista ang ngayon ay kinikilalang “Hagdang
Bato” pababa sa Lawang Sampalok na ngayon ay bahagi na ng opisyal na
sagisag o official seal ng Lunsod ng San Pablo; naipaayos ang kaanyuan
ng bantayog ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal na ipinatayo ng sinundan niyang
presidente noong 1911; naipatayo ang San Pablo City Puericulture Center
na naging sentro sa pangangalaga ng kalusugan ng mga bata, at mga
inang nagdadalangtao, hindi lamang ng mga “taga-San Pabloy,” kundi
marami ring mga ina at sanggol mula sa mga Bayan ng Calauan,
Alaminos, Rizal, Dolores, at Tiaong ang nagsasangguni rito.

Isa umano si Don Marcial Alimario sa iilang naging punong

tagapagpaganap ng dating Bayan ng San Pablo na sa pag-akyat sa
katungkulan ay may dala na siyang isang komprehensibong plano ng mga
dapat isagawa, tulad ng pagsasaayos ng mga napabayaang lansangan,
pagpapaayos sa sistema ng panustos na tubig sa kabayanan, at
pagpapaayos ng mga luma ng gusaling pampaaralan noong mga
panahong iyon, sapagka’t ito ang makatutugon sa mga pangunahing
pangangailangan ng mga karaniwang mamamayan.
 TEN OUTSTANDING SAN PABLEÑOS
(During the commemoration of the city’s 50th Founding Anniversary)
May 7, 1990

1. Dr. BIENVENIDO D. ALORA for MEDICINE

Professor of Microbiology at UST College of Medicine and Surgery

2. Dr. CONRADO PAULINO AQUINO for EDUCATION

Former President of the University of the East

3. Mr. JUANITO “LEFTY” BRIONES for SPORTS

A former Pitcher of Philippine National Base Ball Team that participated in the
Olympic Games and ASIAN Games.

4. Mr. VENANCIO CARADA for AGRICULTURE

A plant scientist at the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture

5. Atty. BARTOLOME S. CARALE for LAW AND LEGAL EDUCATION

Former Dean of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines and
incumbent Chairman of the National Labor Reconcillation Commission

6. Mr. FELIPE SATA CARO for CIVIL SERVICE

A clerk at the Local Civil Registry Office

7. Commodore ROGELIO ALVERO DAYAN for MILITARY SCIENCE

A retired officer of the Philippine Navy and incumbent General Manager of the
Philippine Port Authority

8. Mr. GUILLERMO PASCO INCIONG for ENGINEERING

A retired City Engineer of San Pablo City

9. Mr. RODRIGO B. SUPEÑA for BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

A Senior Vice President at the Bank of the Philippine Islands

10 Mr. RUBEN ENRIQUEZ TANINGCO for JOURNALISM

Working as Public Information Officer at the City Government of San Pablo
and a Hometown Newsweekly Editor

BIENVENIDO V. REYES LEON M. DE VILLA

Chairman Co-Chairman
 ZACARIAS A. TICZON
City Mayor

THE OUTSTANDING SAN PABLEÑOS 2008

Eleven illustrious sons and daughter of the City of San Pablo, all living and still
activie on their chosen career or vocation, were chosen as this year “The Outstanding
San Pableños” chosen to help commemorate the 68 th Founding Anniversary of the City
of San Pablo.
Commonwealth Act No. 520 granting City Charter to then prosperous town of San
Pablo was approved by President Manuel Luis Quezon on May 7, 1940, and formally
inaugurated its city government on January 2, 1941 with Interior Secretary Rafael
Alunan inducting the first set of city officials led by former Laguna Governor Potenciano
Malvar as appointed City Mayor.
In the announcement made by Dr. Ester C. Lozada, City Schools Superintendent
and chairperson of the selection committee created through an executive order issued
by Mayor Vicente B. Amante, the awardees who will be formally honored by the
community during a formal dinner meeting of city officials with community leaders at the
Coco Palace Hotel and Restaurant at Barangay San Francisco this coming Tuesday
evening, May 6, 2008, are Dr. Jaime Aristotle Barte Alip of San Pablo City’s CARD
Bank, for Rural Development Through Microfinancing; Dean Palermo A. Bañagale for
Accountancy; Plant Propagator Renato A. Belen for Agriculture; CHED Regional
Director Amelita A. Biglete for Education; Supreme Court Justice Arturo D. Brion for
Government Service; Court of Appeal Justice Rodrigo V. Cosico for Law and Judiciary;
Olympic Swimmer Marie-Lizza Toinette Frias Danila for Sports; SPC Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Past President Plaridel G. dela Cruz for Business; Association
of Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines Past President Danilo D. Dichoso for
Engineering; Nobel Laureate Rodel D. Lasco for Science and Technology,and Music
Professor /Consultant Ester C. Alcantara-Locson for Arts and Culture.
It can be recalled that when the City of San Pablo commemorated its 50 th Charter
Anniversary on May 7, 1990, among “The Ten Outstanding San Pableños (TOSP)”
chosen by a award committee chaired by RTC Judge Bienvenido V. Reyes and City
Prosecutor Leon M. de Villa were U. E. President Conrado P. Aquino for Education;
Dean Bartolome Carale for Law and Legal Education; Retired City Engineer Guillermo
P. Inciong for Engineering; Commodore Rogelio A. Dayan for Military Science, Baseball
Pitcher Johnny “Lefty” Briones for Sports; Local Civil Registry Office Clerk Felipe Caro
for Government Service; and Public Information Officer Ruben E. Taningco for
Journalism.
When San Pablo celebrated its 53rd Charter Anniversary, on May 7, 1993 and Mayor
Vicente B. Amante initiated the Don Tomas D. Dizon Statemanship Award, in honor of
the author of Commonwealth Act No. 520, chosen to received the honors was RTC
Executive Judge Bienvenido V. Reyes. Merit awards were given to Dr. Juan B.
Hernandez for hometown history, Dr. Vidal Raymundo for medical practice; and Lion
Eduardo Lim for community services and entrepreneurship. Reyes is the co-chairperson
of the 2008 Awards Committee.