A "pailou", a Chinese term for a monumental marker, will soon rise along what is commonly known as the Looc by-pass road, now named after the late Don Carlos A. Gothong, in Dumaguete City.

A major portion of the by-pass road was largely donated by the Gothong family and the construction was started during the term of then mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo.

Calvin Gothong, grandson of Alfredo, one of Don Carlos' children, said yesterday that their family agreed to erect the pailou in Dumaguete because of the city's sentimental ties to the old man.

Don Carlos had studied in Dumaguete just as members of the younger generation of the Gothong family have also attended school here, said Lili Gothong, daughter-in-law of Alfredo Gothong.

She said Alfredo would have wanted to come for yesterday's activity, but had other prior commitments.

The pailou, with an initial cost of some P600,000 only for the foundation itself, spans some 18 meters across the Don Carlos A. Gothong Avenue, about a few hundred meters from the Dumaguete port area.

Greg Uymatiao, contractor for the project, said the structure would be about the height equivalent to three stories of a regular building.

He emphasized they are giving enough clearance for the huge trucks that pass through the Gothong Avenue to and from the port.

Uymatiao said they are hoping to start construction soon with a target of finishing the pailou by February next year, just in time for the Chinese New Year's celebration.

However, detailed engineering works and further planning are still underway, he said.

Officials of Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental welcomed the development, saying it would be an add-on to the city's tourist attractions.

Many pailous are often found in Chinatown sections in Manila and other parts of the world, some of them with fancy designs such as dragonheads.

The one to be erected in Dumaguete is just a simple structure, but, would hopefully blend in with the ambience of the city, Calvin Gothong said.

Among those who attended the ceremonial groundbreaking yesterday were Gov. Emilio Macias II, Mayor Agustin Perdices, Rep. George Arnaiz of the 2nd district, city councilors, barangay Looc officials, Calvin Gothong and other members of the Gothong clan. *JG

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