JOAQUINDon Joaquin Dayrit y Singian was the second son of Don Mariano Dayrit. A don in his own right, just like his elder sister Tasyang, Lolo Joaquin was the quintessential party-giver of his time. He gave parties anytime he liked and would ask Apung Salud to cook. The table was laden with foods such as lengua estofada, pavo embuchado, cannelones, snipes, etc. which Lola Salud cooked for him. It was said that if he did not have a party once or twice a month, he was sick.
Some of his famous guests were President Diosdado Macapagal, Justice Sabino Padilla, Ambrosio Padilla, Justice Carmelino Alvendia, Rufino Cardinal Santos, and managers of banks in San Fernando. When Lolo Joaquin wanted to throw a party, he would just give these people a call, and they would come. He had such great appeal and charisma, not even the President could refuse his invitation. It was always his birthday.
Educated through self-study, Lolo Joaquin learned Spanish through reading. During his early years, he worked with the Pampanga Provincial Government as a collector, travelling to the different municipalities of the province. It was through these trips that he got to meet his many friends. A stint at Pasudeco followed where he became the biggest sugar planter for many years. He was first married to Paz Cuyugan with whom he had several children. Lola Pacing died in 1944. Shortly after, he married Trinidad Canlas but did not have any children with her.
Lolo Joaquin always wanted the best things. He always had three cars. Whenever a new model came out, be it a Buick or an Opel, it was a sure purchase. When the Japanese invaded the country, they were able to acquire one of his cars. The other two were safely hidden in Masantol. His children were educated in Manila, sent to the best schools - Ateneo, Sta. Rosa, Holy Ghost, Centro Escolar and Sto. Tomas. Whenever there was a newly opened restaurant in Manila, he would pick-up his children from their dormitories and treat them out.
Come World War II and the Japanese invasion, Lolo Joaquin saw no problem with the change of aggressor. He was a friend of the Japanese as much as he was a friend of the Americans. After the World War II, many tried to accuse him of collaboration. But Lolo Joaquin would usually defend himself saying that many people from the barrios would have been executed if not for him. When the Japanese apprehended suspected guerillas, Lolo Joaquin always came to the rescue, "They are not guerillas." The Japanese would ask him how he knew these and he would smartly reply that he personally knew the men they caught.
There was one instance when a nephew of the owner of Pasudeco came rushing to his house, asking for assistance. His uncle, Tatang Lucio, was slowly being killed at the Japanese barracks by filling him up with water. Lolo Joaquin rushed to the headquarters of the commanding general, bringing with him two Japanese doctors who served as interpreters. There, he explained that his men were killing a good man, his death meant that the sugar center would cease operations. The general stopped the execution. His charisma and credibility not only served him well. To many Fernandinos, it was a great assistance during hard times.
Lolo Joaquin was a master of cock fighting, counting Benigno Aquino, Sr. as one of his sabong partners. Due to the prestigious name Lolo Joaquin was able to build, cockpits would usually ask permission to place his name on the invitations of the pintakasi to add importance to the event. These requests would come from as far north as Pangasinan and in the south in Batangas and Laguna. His name was known in many cockpits all over Luzon and was considered a very credible person. Thus, he was easily able to manipulate the betting if needed.
At his home, Lolo Joaquin managed a gambling joint, the only "legal" one in San Fernando. He never got caught because of his many high ranking friends. Whenever a raid was scheduled, his friends at the Philippine Constabulary would usually ring him in advance to warn him that a raid was to be conducted.
Lolo Joaquin was definitely a character. He had such a good memory of telephone numbers that he would call the people himself without a directory. His friends fondly called him "puniemas," a Spanish expletive that he used very often. He died in 1968.