Gen. Douglas MacArthur comes back to life in Dagupan City.

Through the Heritage Commission and the Metro Dagupan Culture & Arts Council, the city government has started the long awaited restoration of the Home Economics Building located at the West Central Elementary School I.

The building, located at Burgos Street, has been declared as one of the city’s cultural heritage zones on May 31, 1994 through Ordinance No. 1518-94.

Originally conceptualized by Mayor Benjamin Lim and Heritage Commission Chairman Carmen Prieto, the three-phased restoration project is now being set into motion in partnership with the United Architects of the Philippines-Pangasinan-Dagupan Chapter led by its president Gerardo L. Gonzales and the Department of Education represented by West Central Principal Reynardo C. Barrozo.

“Through the restoration project, the rich history of the Home Economics building and Gen. Douglas MacArthur return to life, making the public aware of the city’s rich cultural past,” the mayor said.

According to Prieto, the building was historically significant as it was occupied and used by Gen Douglas Mac Arthur as his headquarters when he and the Allied Forces landed at the historic Lingayen Gulf in January 1945 that started the campaign to liberate Luzon Island from Japanese occupation.

The United Architect of the Philippines – Pangasinan-Dagupan Chapter, composed of a seven-member architect and some of its auxiliaries will prepare architectural designs as well as supervise the implementation of the plans in reference with the original architectural features and measurements.

Vice-chairman Alex Villaflor of the Heritage Commission, consultant for Historical Research and architectural designs, also prepared the interior layout of the proposed MacArthur Shrine.

On September 2006, Prieto noted that the Heritage Commission has already declared 10 heritage sites in Dagupan as approved by the National Historical Institute.

The initial phase of the project materialized through the countrywide development fund of Speaker Jose de Venecia, an alumni of the WCES, while the second phase was from various Dagupeño associations in America, such as:  the Dagupan Association of Northern California, Dagupeneans Association of California, Dagupan Association of Southern California, Greater Dagupan Association of Los Angeles, Dagupan Association of San Diego, Dagupan Association of Chicago-Illinois, Dagupeños of New York, New Jersey and Boston, BHF Group of Companies and Magic Group of Companies.

For donations and inquiries, one may contact the City Museum at (075) 515-8060 or 515-2979 and look for Janice de Vera. (CIO/Leziel T. Cayabyab)