If you are from Pangasinan, I'm sure you've been to
Tondaligan at least once in your life. In one of your visits to the park or the
videoke sheds along the shores of Bonuan Blue Beach, you probably bought
mangoes or boiled peanuts from an old woman with a faint smile and mellow
voice. It could be out of compassion or maybe you just couldn't resist how the
green mango made your mouth water.
Her name is Nana Violy (Violeta Landingin Cornel). According
to her, she's been a vendor in Tondaligan for more than 40 years. Long enough
to send her children and grandchildren to school. Long enough to remember that
Tondaligan has changed name numerous times before. It has been named National
Children's Park, Ferdinand Marcos Park, Tondaligan Park, and Bonuan Blue Beach
People's Park. We shared the same sentiment that the names Tondaligan Park (to
describe the park) and Tondaligan Beach (to describe the beach) are misnomers.
Tondaligan Park is redundant as tondaligan in Pangasinan means a place to rest
or a place of recreation - meaning, a park. And to describe or name the beach
as Tondaligan Beach is absurd as literally it would mean a park beach. History is
clear that the beach’s name is Bonuan Blue Beach. But somehow the names Tondaligan
Park and Tondaligan Beach stuck the way most of us Pangasinenses have accepted
Panggalatok (which I vehemently detest) as the same as Pangasinan.
I observed that her basket of goods was still full
even if it’s already late in the afternoon. She lamented that sales have waned
through the years and the Tondaligan she knew has changed. She didn’t ask me to
buy her stuff. With enthusiasm she smiled and said: “Tomorrow’s another day, sales
will be better!” Before parting, I asked her if I could take a picture of her
to which she reluctantly agreed. She said a lot of photographers have taken a
snapshot of her with the promise of her picture reaching overseas and different
magazines. All she wanted is that they give her a copy of her picture when they
see her again but years have passed and none have returned. I said, I will not
only show her photo to many people but share her story as well. She smiled profusely
and said goodbye.
