CCP’s PILAK Awardee for Outstanding Work in Community Art and Culture and former Mayor of Batangas City
January 2, 1943 – April 4, 2021
Eduardo Berberabe Dimacuha, or “Ka Eddie” as called by many, was the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ PILAK awardee for outstanding work in community art and culture in 2004. He became a lawyer in 1972. He was the longest-serving mayor of Batangas City, for which he served for seven terms or for a total of 21 years (1988-1998, 2001-2010, and 2013-2016).
The CCP recognized the city of Batangas as its regional art center in the CALABARZON Region under the Kaisa Sa Sining (KSS) program of the CCP Cultural Exchange Department. Mayor Eddie was committed to promoting Batangueño culture and arts that provided opportunities for local artists, cultural workers, and related personnel. He also institutionalized the Sublian Festival in 1988, which became part of cultural celebrations in Batangas City.
His programs “Eto Batangueño Disiplinado” and “Isang puno, isang patpat, ating buhay ang katapat,” advocated discipline and order. It helped Batangas City become one of the cleanest and greenest cities. According to his son, Atty. Reginald, the late mayor pushed for the construction of the EBD Bridge of Progress to “decongest traffic in Batangas City and to ensure the safety of all Batangueños from floods.”
His achievements during his incumbency and his excellent leadership were recognized by the Sangguniang Panglungsod in the virtual session of the council held last April 6. The Resolution No. 91 S. 2021, “Mourning the Loss of a Great Leader” which was signed by the council, highlighted the programs that were implemented by Dimacuha, which became the “blueprint” for other cities and municipalities.
He passed away on April 4, at the age of 78. The late Eduardo Dimacuha is survived by his wife, Vilma, and his children Atty. Reginald, Angelito Dondon, and Beverly Rose.
Carmencita Bernardo said in her Facebook post tribute to Mayor Eddie, “Three decades ago, a time when it was really challenging to gain support from the local govt. units, the City of Batangas under the leadership of Mayor Eddie, was among the few LGUs who opened its doors for us and provided full support to develop and promote the arts, especially the local arts, culture and traditions of Batangas. He was someone who partnered and successfully implemented numerous projects and programs made remarkable impact in the appreciation and understanding of why art and culture were important to the lives of the Batanguenos.
In a Facebook post, Atty. Reginald remembered his father as a “visionary” who accomplished many things as mayor of Batangas City.
According to the resolution, Dimacuha was a “staunch defender of the environment and ensured to strike a balance between industrialization and preservation of the City’s natural beauty and resources, that no material progress is more important than healthy and safe habitat for the Batangueños.” The resolution also stated that “There will never be enough words to describe the goodness of this man who has selflessly served and loved Batangas City; in his passing, the Batangueños lost a strong pillar on whom the city in its very essence lay.”
Some of the programs he implemented during his term were the Barangay Action Outreach Program, EBD Health Card, scholarship for the youth, TESDA Apprenticeship program, welfare programs for the senior citizens, solo parents and street children, yellow corn propagation, livestock dispersal program, cooperative development in the rural barangays, availment of foreign grants, and establishment of sisterhood programs.
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