185. DR. ATANASIO TOMACRUZ DAYRIT, JR., THE 6TH MAYOR OF CABATUAN

 

DR. ATANASIO TOMACRUZ DAYRIT, JR.,

THE 6TH MAYOR OF CABATUAN

Troy Alexander Gozum Miano

04 November 2023

In 2009, the then incumbent Mayor Jun Dayrit, called me at his residence and asked me to scribble his biography. On September 14 of the same year, I handed over the draft and he returned the sketch with minor corrections. This year, on his 89th birthday, I visited him in his abode and handed over a gift from our fellow brothers of the Knights of Columbus. He then asked me to deliver his biography when he leaves for the Great Beyond. I instantly left since I felt his favor is very morbid since he is still alive and kicking. The last Sunday before his demise, I visited him again but left teary eyed for I cannot stand staring at his frail face because I am used in seeing him jolly and active. I served twice as Sangguniang Bayan Member during his third and fifth term as mayor and another term under his son, Dr. Cid in 2010. Mayor Dayrit is our relative by affinity since the older sibling of my maternal grandmother was married to his uncle, Damian Tomacruz.

Great men and women are the foundations of a growing community. A number of illustrious individuals stood as able leaders of Cabatuan since the time of migration in 1912. Many have left marks that transformed the lives of their constituents and fixed the course of this blooming town. One of them is Dr. Atanasio T. Dayrit, Jr. who became the sixth mayor of the Municipality of Cabatuan, Isabela.

It is interesting to know how Mayor Dayrit witnessed the growth of Cabatuan from his childhood years and had the opportunity to serve the same town beloved to him after 57 years. He witnesses how each of the five mayors before him served the Cabatuanenses, which later became his basis in innovating and formulating true and dedicated public service, which he rendered for the rest of his life.

Atanasio Tomacruz Dayrit, Jr. was born on May 28, 1934 at the Dayrit residence in Barrio San Sebastian, Hagonoy, Bulacan to Atanasio Hizon Dayrit, Sr. and Luz Morelos Tomacruz. Luz was about six months pregnant in Barrio Cabatuan when she decided her tenth child be born in their hometown in Hagonoy because of lack of good hospital facilities in Isabela back then.

The proud father named his sixth son after his name and was christened at the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Hagonoy on June 14, 1934 with Fr. Sebastian Fortes officiating and Mr. Zosimo Reyes and Mrs. Mercedes Cruz as godparents. Junior, as the young Dayrit was nicknamed, was about three months old when his parents went back to Cabatuan. He was baptized again at the Our Lady of Pillar Parish Church in Cauayan town in December of the same year with Engr. Timoteo Aricayos, Mrs. Mercedes Fijer-Angco and Mrs. Luisa Ramil-Abad as godparents.

As junior was growing up, he was the darling of the family not only because he is the youngest in the brood but he was considered a blessing in their new built home in front of the public market place, now the Bonifacio Park. Junior’s growing years is known in Philippine history as “Peacetime” (the period between the inauguration of the commonwealth and the start of World War II; 1935-1941). He was about five years old when his father was elected a town legislator of Cauayan and this is the first time the Dayrit family was directly involved in public service and politics.

In 1941, Junior was enrolled 1st grade at the Cabatuan Pilot School (now the Cabatuan West Central School) and it was also on December 8 of this year when Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was bombed which led to the Japanese Imperial Army occupation of the Philippines including Cagayan Valley. The Dayrit family evacuated to Sitio Nueva Era (now a barangay) in Barrio Culing until the hostilities subsided. Junior finished his 3rd grade in 1945 and eventually graduated elementary in 1948.

Junior entered secondary schooling at Cauayan High School at Barrio San Fermin in Cauayan town since there was no local high school in the locality that time. It was during his 2nd year when Cabatuan was segregated from the mother-town of Cauayan on November 5, 1949 by virtue of Executive Order No. 293 signed by his Excellency President Elpidio Quirino in Macalañang. Junior’s uncle USAFFE Captain Damian S. Tomacruz witnessed the historic signing. Junior was also witness in the inauguration of the first set of Municipal Officials led by appointed Mayor Teodulfo D. Rumbaoa at the social center in front their residence.

Being devoted Roman Catholics, the Dayrit couple decided to transfer Junior to a Catholic institution in San Mateo town after his 3rd year. In 1952, he graduated his secondary schooling at the Fatima High School, the forerunner of the La Salette of San Mateo. Junior was again witness when his family hosted the coming of the La Salette missionaries in the locality in the early 1950s. Cabatuan’s main religion then was Aglipayan brought by the pioneers from Ilocos Norte. It was the residence of his uncle, Damian S. Tomacruz, where the first celebration of the holy Eucharist was held and this residence also became the temporary place of worship. His family was also instrumental in the construction of the first Roman Catholic edifice in 1955, beside their residence in Barrio T. Abad (now Barangay San Andres).

In line with the family tradition of having a UST education, Junior was enrolled in this prestigious university in Sampaloc District, Manila in 1953 taking up Associate in Arts as Pre-med and eventually Medicine Proper in 1955. He later transferred in his last year at the Manila Central University (MCU) where he finished the course. He had his one-year internship at the MCU Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila Rapid Center at Quezon Institute. In 1961, he passed the Medical Board Examination at the age 26.

It was during Dr. Dayrit’s residency at the MCU Hospital when he met a fourth-year medical student under his tutelage by the name, Alma Abella Aspilla. The young maiden from Dumaguete town (now a city) in Negros Oriental captured the heart of Junior, which resulted into a marriage on April 25, 1962 at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church in Retiro, Quezon City. The holy celebration was officiated by Fr. Jose Luis Arrieta, OFM with Atty. Luis B. Gomez, Mrs. Eva Teves, Dr. Gregorio D. Dizon and Mrs. Consolacion Juico as sponsors. The new couple resided at B. Serrano Street, near MCU in Caloocan City. On August 16, 1962, the couple was blessed with their first child and named him Cid. Much joy was bought to the family when their second child, Julian, was born on June 15, 1963 followed by Esperidion (December 14, 1968), the only girl - Maria Luz (May 7, 1973) and Atanasio III (January 31, 1978).

Dr. Dayrit specialized in EENT (Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat). Dr. Dayrit planned of having a medical career in the United States but because of his love to his parents who needed be taken good care of (the senior Dayrits are now on their 70s), he decided to go back home in Isabela in 1963 and established his first clinic (Out Patient Department).

The demand for a hospitality facility and the increasing number of patients needed to be admitted prompted Dr. Dayrit to establish the Dayrit Medical Clinic and Hospital. It was inaugurated on October 28, 1975. The first building stood in the 3000 square meter lot brought from Mr. Norberto V. Abad in Barrio Centro. The facility is the first Hospital in the area to be accredited by Medicare. It has 25 bed capacity and Operating room. A medical mission highlighted the opening of the Dayrit Hospital with doctors coming Santiago and Manila. To name a few were: Dr. Gil Domingo (surgeon), Dr. Eduardo Caparas, Dr. Elmer Taguinod and Dr. Roque Alba (anesthesiologist). The first staff and medical practitioner worth mentioning was Dr. Consesa Tan. The Dayrit Hospital became known far and wide not only in Isabela but up to the mountainous Provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Quirino and Ifugao.

The Dayrit Hospital was a regular member of the Manila Medical Society since 1962. When Dr. Dayrit resided in Isabela, he became an active member of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Isabela Chapter also know as the Isabela Medical Society. In 1978. he became its President and on the same year he was awarded “Outstanding Physician”. Also in 1978 Dr. Dayrit organized the Philippine Academy of Family Physician with membership coming from the whole of Isabela and Region II. He was elected by the entire Philippine Medical Association as District Governor for Cagayan Valley Region and served from 1988-1989. In 1980, he was a Family Physician Fellow. Dr. Dayrit is a respective physician not only among his fellow practitioners but also to his patients scattered the valley.

Dr. Dayrit is an active socio-civic member of the community in Cabatuan having served many civic and religious organizations as a token of his thanks for the numerous blessings the Lord has bestowed him.

On January 10, 1965, Dr. Dayrit stood a proud member of the clan when the family was awarded “One of the Ten Finalists in the Search for the Catholic Family of the Philippines-1964”. The plaque was signed by His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, The Most Reverend Carlo Martini, DD and the head of the Christian Family Movement.

Dr. Dayrit is a member of the Holy Name Society and President of the San Andres Parish Council in 1983. During his term, the new Catholic Church was erected including the acquisition of the Catholic Cemetery lot.

Dr. Dayrit is one of the founders and chartered the Knights of Columbus Council 9155 and was the first Grand Knight. The highlight of his tenure was the cow dispersal livelihood project for the KC members from the communio – The Netherlands. He also spearheaded several medical and dental missions in Cabatuan.

Dr. Dayrit is also a member of the Rotary Club of Cauayan, District 3770. He became the club’s president in 1989 and implemented several projects like school buildings, waiting sheds and pump wells to different barangays in Cabatuan, Luna and Cauayan.

Dr. Dayrit saw in his family the leadership traits of the clan from his father who became a Municipal Councilor of Cauayan in the late 1930s and to all his siblings who served as officials of different local government units of Isabela and Basilan province. Thus, even though he knew that entering the rough world of politics would mean no profit compared to his rich-filled job as a doctor, he joined the four-man mayoralty race in the first free elections after the popular People Power Revolution of 1986. Being a political neophyte, not knowing the rudiments and dirty strategies in the campaign arena, Dr. Dayrit lost in the election of January 17, 1988.

Armed with the belief and evidence that he can win an election for he almost won in the 1988 local race, Dr. Dayrit filed his candidacy for mayor on March 1992. The May 11, 1992 national and local elections catapulted Dr. Dayrit as the sixth man to become mayor of Cabatuan. Mayor Dayrit was the first Local Chief Executive to be covered with the implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA7620). He was also the first mayor not to preside in the Sangguniang Bayan as the presiding officer is now delegated to the Municipal Vice Mayor.

The newly-elected Mayor Dayrit faced one of his major challenges in his public service career when on the midnight of October 26, 1993, the Cabatuan Municipal Town Hall was reduced to ashes. All records, equipments, furniture and fixtures were burned. Only the concrete parts of the building withstood the towering inferno. The municipal officials and employees transferred to the TCGI Building in Barangay Sampaloc. The highlights of his first term were: the construction of the town hall, installation of telephone lines (Digitel), various Farm-to-Market Road and Barangay Roads rehabilitation and concreting.

The first term of Mayor Dayrit proved to be short in his plans and implementations of major projects and programs in infrastructure and livelihood. He sought a second term to continue his masterplan for Cabatuan’s development and won in the May 8, 1995 midterm elections.

The municipal town hall was inaugurated on April 28, 1996 with Senator Heherson T. Alvarez as Guest of Honor. The proud Mayor Dayrit dedicated the public edifice to the people of Cabatuan and thanked the national and provincial officials for their unwavering support. Other highlights of the second term of Mayor Dayrit were the inauguration of the Isabela National High School – Cabatuan Annex (forerunner of the Cabatuan National High School), rehabilitation of the public market and municipal playground, concreting of various municipal and barangay roads and farm-to-market roads. It was also during this term when the country celebrated its centennial year.

Mayor Dayrit was at the zenith of his career as town executive and is so much loved and respected by the people for the gigantic and numerous changes he implemented in Cabatuan. He sought his third term and won the May 11, 1998 national and local elections. Highlights of the third term were: construction of municipal library, Liga ng mga Barangay office, IGLOO-RIC livelihood center, municipal boundary arc in Diamantina, water system project, concreting of municipal and barangay roads and farm-to-market roads. It was also during this term when the municipality celebrated its 50th golden anniversary and the coming of the new millennium.

The Local Government Code of 1991 prevented Mayor Dayrit to seek a fourth term as local town executive. After thorough consultation with the barangay officials, local sectors and majority of the Cabatuanenses, Mayor Dayrit’s wife, Alma, filed her candidacy as mayor and won the May 14, 2001 midterm elections. It is widely believed that the assisting hands, moral support and the nine-year track record of husband Jun were the main factor of the win.

The highlights of Mayor Alma Dayrit’s term were the establishment of the La Paz National High School and the Luis-Fe Gomez Diamantina National High School, operation of the Cabatuan Water System, construction of the Cabatuan Tennis Court, acquisition of heavy equipments, concreting of municipal and barangay roads, institutionalizing the Kankanen Festival, Establishment of the Ramento-Del Corpuz Primary School and Paraiso Elementary School and the division of the DepEd district into two.

Former Mayor Jun Dayrit was later appointed Manager of the Cabatuan Water System. Aside from being the First Gentleman of Cabatuan, Jun Dayrit continued his medical practice together with his son Cid and devoted much of his time in farming. He was also extra-active in the local NGOs such as the Knights of Columbus and the Rotary Club of Cauayan.

Mayor Jun Dayrit returned as town head in the May 10, 2004 local and national elections. The highlights of the fourth term were: the construction of presidential bridge in Namnama, concreting of various municipal and barangay roads, ARCDP project in Barangays Canan and La Paz and rehabilitation of Magdalena triangle.

Mayor Dayrit won his fifth term as Local Chief Executive in the May 14, 2007 and the highlights of the term were: improvement of Cabatuan Social Hall, establishment of Cabatuan Motorpool and a new public cemetery, construction of the new Municipal Slaughterhouse, implementation of clean and green program and ecological solid waste management program, construction of main drainage in Sampaloc and Del Pilar, acquisition of additional heavy equipments, concreting of various municipal and barangay roads and improvement of the public market. His term is also marked with the celebration of the 60th diamond anniversary of the municipality and the institutionalization of the Sinilyasi, the official folkdance of Cabatuan.

Mayor Dayrit officially retired in politics in 2016 and his sons: Dr. Cid A. Dayrit (Sangguniang Bayan Member 2004-2010 & 8th Municipal Mayor of Cabatuan 2010-2013) and Mr. Julian A. Dayrit (Sangguniang Bayan Member 2016-2019 & 2022 to present) continued his legacy.

Mayor Dayrit peacefully joined His Creator on October 29, 2023 at his residence in his beloved Cabatuan and is survived with his five children and 14 grandchildren.

Mayor Atanasio Tomacruz Dayrit, Jr. has made a mark in the history of Cabatuan not only as its sixth municipal mayor but also as an illustrious doctor and socio-active citizen of Cabatuan. His works, achievements and accomplishments contributed much to the development of not only Cabatuan but also the Province of Isabela as well.