Playing with Fire
Impressive!!!
By Gonzalo Duque
NORMALLY, or abnormally, we don’t go to the Provincial Capitol, well, maybe, for personal reasons.
Our apathetic attitude could be due to our dismay to the non-cooperative stance of past provincial officials to our projects and/or advocacies we thought were worthy of support for the good or advancement of the province. One of these was the abortive or unfinished regional drug rehab center in Burgos, Pangasinan. That’s it. We received no support from our provincial governor even if we had received “starter” funds from then Vice President Erap and then Senator Orly Mercado.
Maybe we had other reasons. The absence of intellectual debates in that august – well, it used to be august – body. Wow, you, dear provincemates, should have observed the intellectual clashes among the late Vice Gov. Porfy Sison, Vic Millora, Ager Rosario, Alfie Bince and newly deceased Art Padua under the expert baton of then Gov. Aguedo Agbayani who was obviously better than the son.
Our mood vis-à-vis the Capitol suddenly changed when we were “toured” around the Camelot by the threesome of Provincial Administrator Raffy Baraan, Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco and Executive Assistant Ramon Morden upon instruction by Governor Amado “Spines” Espino. Truly, it was like visiting the proverbial Camelot of King Arthur. We were impressed by the royal and lovely look everywhere. This governor, we thought, should be lovely, a, frowning mayors, oh, yes, pare Jun, he is sharp-tongued, we also heard. But by gum, look at what he did, it will go down in Pangasinan history as the best that ever happened to our Capitol. No debate there. Those who have gone there are saying the same thing.
The governor, of course, with the full backing of Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas and the provincial board deserves an accolade, huh, Bishop Cruz, instead of overplaying the killings and the shotgun issue because you see, and there are certain factors that a thing or certain things can’t be licked just like that.
Let’s give Spines an A-1 performance. Ah yes, he also did well in other areas such as health and medical care. Our hospitals are now in tiptop shape. And the work ethic of provincial personnel shows a well-trained and focused manpower.
We liken the Capitol to the Capitol of Sacramento. Maganda, spic ‘span, regal and bespeaks of leadership that means business.
Congrats, Guv’nor, you deserve a hug from our people.
* * *
Back to Bishop Oscar Cruz, who must have lost a fortune when he bet in jueteng. Dear Bishop, in this world of warm-blooded mortals, you also need to enlarge your view about the world, not to pin down anybody on an issue which for centuries has remained unkillable.
No, we are not pro jueteng, but it’s an issue that should not bring down the entire caboodle of leadership that our governor has successfully done for our province.
We hate to make comparisons, but we have a better rating for former priest Among Ed Panlilio of Pampanga, now governor. Mahal siya ng mga tao, kasi, he is more makatao. O, sige, palabanin natin si Bishop Cruz na gobernor, o kahit mayor man lang, ewan lang. Naku, that’s what we mean, let’s give Caesar what’s his, and God what’s His.
Huwag naman kayong moralize nang moralize ha? Magagalit sa inyo ang Diyos, Siya lang dapat gagawa niyan e. You know, there was a time when Bung Ferdinand and then Senator (and frustrated presidentiable) Jovito Salonga, who is our friend. Nang nagalit si Marcos, he called him down as a “moralizing fraud.” Knocked out ang kaibigan natin.
* * *
One great hope of those who, like us, want to settle the score on the province’s founding or chartering date is the governor. It was us who first broached the idea. Ngayon pa lang, mukhang natabunan tayo ng malaking kulog at kidlat ano? Talagang walang record! So how can we say with confidence we are celebrating our lllth foundation or so year? Wala pang malinaw diyan! It’s therefore only proper that the Espino administration is taking a look at this seriously.
We don’t know our founding year. So what are we? Bogkalot? We hope Raffy was not pulling our leg when he hinted that we head a commission to undertake this effort to fix the exact date of Pangasinan’s foundation.
Governor, go for it. It will be under you when this very basic, very elementary, and very crucial issue is solved once and for all. Someone whispered, “So you will be in the league of Americus Vespucci or Villalubos,” ha, Amadus Espini? Pwera galaw, this undertaking is worth your effort, Sir, our best governor, so far.
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