By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
“NENE, where ever you are, I know you’re happy seeing the place we founded. We’d already reached our dreams and goals.”
What a “meaningful” phrase articulated by former Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB) mayor Cynthia de la Cruz when they celebrated their town’s 40th Founding Anniversary and 30th Kali-Kalihan Harvest Festival on Feb. 1-9.
Cynthia is the widow of the late Nehemias “Nene” de la Cruz, also former mayor of DSB-turned-Board Member of the Province of Negros Occidental.
The De la Cruz couple was publicly known as the founder of DSB, the youngest town in NegOcc, through Batas Pambansa (BP) Bilang 336 signed by the deposed President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. on Feb. 9, 1983
Though Wikipedia didn’t mention them in the narrative of DSB history, everybody in Negros is convinced that Nene and Cynthia were really the initiators of DSB’s township.
They were former rebels who fought left and right against government forces in the mountains of Negros. Even their love affair blossomed while they’re in the underground movement. Until one day they realized to yield and pursue a noteworthy journey – to create a place where government services are accessible to the “poorest of the poor” and indigenous people, and to put an end to the armed struggle in a place that served as “playground of insurgency.”
Yes, they succeeded! From a rebel lair, DSB – home to nearly 30,000 people (based on the National Census in 2020) is now a premier tourist destination.
It’s dubbed as the “Summer Capital” in Negros Island. Hence, DSB is Nene’s and Cynthia’s “immortal trophy of success” born out of an “impossible dream”.
ROAD TO PEACE
In this year’s anniversary, sitting Mayor Laurence Marxlen, eldest son of the De la Cruz couple, said “we’re grateful to the men and women who founded DSB 40 years ago.”
He’s referring to his beloved parents, among others from the police, military and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who really played important roles in making DSB what it is today.
“We can’t go on celebrating our anniversary without honoring the people who served as our heroes. It’s time nga pasalamatan sila mentras nga buhi pa sila,” he said.
Leading the pack of honorees were those considered “peace icons”. They included retired Brigadier General Lyndon Sollesta and Colonel Leo Irwin Agpangan from the Army and police, respectively.
Former DPWH-NegOcc’s 1st Engineering District chief, Engr. Rogelio Tongson, was also greatly remembered for leading the creation of the 81.12-kilometer Negros Occidental Eco-Tourism Highway (NOETH).
“My salute to this man kay bisan gina-bombahan na sang mg rebelde ang ila mga heavy equipment, pero wala gid siya natalaw nga ipadayun ang paghimo sang dalan,” Mayor Marxlen related.
NOETH, billed as the “Road to Peace”, traverses the Bacolod-Murcia-DSB -San Carlos route and vice versa.
And for Sollesta, then a young lieutenant of the Army’s 78th Infantry “Warrior” Battalion (IB), this “Road to Peace” opened great windows for tourism and economic opportunities for DSB.”
“But making this road was crucial. However, ‘twas Sir Nene who really pursued such amidst ups and downs,” he recalled.
“So, where the road begins, insurgency ends,” he punctuated. “Now, everyone is savoring what Sir Nene had fought for as NOETH is the sign of progress in DSB.”
ONE STEP AHEAD
Meanwhile, Mayor Marxlen said, “Ang DSB ang naghulma sang akon pagkatawo. It made me as a person….Thus, I have mixed emotion now because I can’t believe I’m so engulfed in this work as public servant.”
That’s why he promised “not to put in vain” what his parents, especially his Tatay Nene, founded “through blood and sweat”.
And making DSB’s progress and development sustainable, Mayor Marxlen launched a new battle cry: “ONE STEP AHEAD”. It stands for “Opportunities in Natural Environment through Sustainable Tourism reaching Economic Progress through Accessible Health, Education and Agricultural Development.
With more than 10,000 tourists now visiting DSB on a weekend, the mayor said, “I am beyond happy.”
And to put meaning on this year’s anniversary themed: “DSB @40, Fuerte!,” Mayor Marxlen led the ground breaking of the 17-hectare lot property in Barangay Igmaya-an on Feb, 9.
The area will host the soon-to-be-constructed new municipal hall, activity center, market, police station, among other national offices.
Over and above, Mayor Marxlen vowed to protect the peace and order in their town to make their tourism promotion sustainable forever and ever.
In sum: What a story! What a success! What a (new)promise! What a fitting tribute! All is packed for DSB and in the name of its beloved founder, Sir Nene, hence, fuerte!/PN
