Of Sugar And Salt: A Chimney Monument
Arriving at Seda Atria, I saw this thing and thought it was an obelisk or church ruins (such as a bell tower), that was "enshrined" to become a monument. I was curious.
Not an easy place to get to. Maybe monuments like these are just meant to be seen from afar! It's a rotund, so no stop-lights nor zebra-walks. Thus, all vehicles run fast.
This is the Donato Militante Pison, Sr. Monument located on an avenue bearing the same name, at an intersection with Pasencia Tijam Pison Avenue! O ano, laban ka?
Haruy, ito na pala yun! Not an obelisk, not a bell tower, but the pausukan of a pugon!
On closer look, they are sculptures of sugar plantation and salt-making workers.
Some of the workers depicted look to me like the "sacadas" of yesteryears.
And I saw a black marble slab on the bottom part, telling who made these artworks.
But I wasn't happy yet. I wanted to see a significance of this asuhan. Then I saw this:
On this site, now stands the chimney that is reminiscent of the "muscovado" factory that Donato Militante Pison, Sr. built in Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. From 1888 onwards, he became one of the Ilonggos who engaged in sugar production when the province of Iloilo was a major producer of muscovado or brown sugar. He also cultivated a 10-hectare rice field and in time acquired the neighboring fishponds.
Very much an entrepreneur, Donato M. Pison, Sr. would also sail on a boat, "batil", that used to dock along the Iloilo River and would trade goods in Bicol where he met his wife, Paciencia Tijam.
Years later, taking advantage of the strong north eastern wind ideal for the formation of salt crystals, he ventured into salt-making. To produce salt then known as "white gold", he manufactured bricks for salt beds using clay from his rice fields. The bricks were made in a kiln he himself made. He also built a Chinese-inspired wooden contraption with multiple paddles that moved salt water up from the river and fishponds to the evaporator ponds and into the salt beds. This expertise was imitated by other salt-producing areas in the Visayas and as far Mindoro. Salt trading was done in the Visayas and Mindanao region.
In embarking on a diversified land use with an exceptional enterprising spirit and fortitude, he made a major contribution to Iloilo's thriving agricultural industry. He achieved this with the full support of his wife, and in partnership with their loyal farm workers whose descendants still work with the family up to this time.
In 1981, Donato M. Pison, Sr. was honored posthumously as one of the "Ten Outstanding Iloilo Pioneers" by Iloilo CREBA, ISOA and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo for his invaluable innovations in the salt industry. Inspired by their heritage, the heirs became entrepreneurs themselves. In a bold move to develop the city's real estate industry tehy put up KAPIDECO (Kauturan Pison Development Corp.), Riverside Boardwalk Properties, Inc. and S.T. Pison Enterprises, Inc.
For all these, Donato M. Pison, Sr., was a simple man. Yet he lived his dreams with passion and a great vision - a vision which is now shared by the third generation, ever concious of each small step made towards the reshaping of modern Iloilo where the diversified businesses were once and are now symbols of the rapid development of Iloilo's great potential. This chimney started it all more than a hundred years ago. Where you sand now is a legacy that the Pison Clan offers to the people of Iloilo.
Very much an entrepreneur, Donato M. Pison, Sr. would also sail on a boat, "batil", that used to dock along the Iloilo River and would trade goods in Bicol where he met his wife, Paciencia Tijam.
Years later, taking advantage of the strong north eastern wind ideal for the formation of salt crystals, he ventured into salt-making. To produce salt then known as "white gold", he manufactured bricks for salt beds using clay from his rice fields. The bricks were made in a kiln he himself made. He also built a Chinese-inspired wooden contraption with multiple paddles that moved salt water up from the river and fishponds to the evaporator ponds and into the salt beds. This expertise was imitated by other salt-producing areas in the Visayas and as far Mindoro. Salt trading was done in the Visayas and Mindanao region.
In embarking on a diversified land use with an exceptional enterprising spirit and fortitude, he made a major contribution to Iloilo's thriving agricultural industry. He achieved this with the full support of his wife, and in partnership with their loyal farm workers whose descendants still work with the family up to this time.
In 1981, Donato M. Pison, Sr. was honored posthumously as one of the "Ten Outstanding Iloilo Pioneers" by Iloilo CREBA, ISOA and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo for his invaluable innovations in the salt industry. Inspired by their heritage, the heirs became entrepreneurs themselves. In a bold move to develop the city's real estate industry tehy put up KAPIDECO (Kauturan Pison Development Corp.), Riverside Boardwalk Properties, Inc. and S.T. Pison Enterprises, Inc.
For all these, Donato M. Pison, Sr., was a simple man. Yet he lived his dreams with passion and a great vision - a vision which is now shared by the third generation, ever concious of each small step made towards the reshaping of modern Iloilo where the diversified businesses were once and are now symbols of the rapid development of Iloilo's great potential. This chimney started it all more than a hundred years ago. Where you sand now is a legacy that the Pison Clan offers to the people of Iloilo.
Di ba ang haba? It's wordy and flowery, but we now understand what it is, and is for!
No, I did not memorize all those! I just transcribed those paragraphs from this...
But now, you and I know the story about that Chimney Monument!
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