WHY GAKI

Ever since i was a small child, I was wondering when I hear the word "Gaki" In those days, the people of Piddig were synonymous to Gaki and many among us wondered what does gaki means. Gaki is not an ilokano word, not even English or Spanish. Where did it came from?

For the rest of you there particularly those younger than I am here is the story. Long before the war, a well known pianist use to stage piano concerts in a makeshift stage in that park where the Gaki Theater stands today. This guy, known as Prof.Luis Castueras used to wear khakhi clothes. When people ask what is the name of those clothes he would reply "gaki". Maybe he can't pronounce or maybe he loved to say it that way. So people used to call him "gaki", until that place was soon called gaki.

Here's a tribute to the man who created Gaki.