Think about it

By October 20, 2014Archives, Opinion

The kind of hotel Dagupan needs these days

Jun Velasco

By Jun Velasco

 

“Courage consists not in hazarding without fear, but being resolutely minded in a just cause,” Plutarch

 

SOMETHING funny happened to this column last week.

Our neighbor columnist/friend Gonzalo Duque called up to say he too was looking thru all the pages of the Punch for the continuation of our Page 4 item to no avail. Ditto with several “fans” of this corner.

But those familiar with the job (newspaper publishing) and our pretty editorial assistant Jocelyn understand. We quickly told publisher Ermin “mag-erratum na lang.”

Below was the missing part:

It’s strange, abnormal, bizarre, out-of-this world!

We’re referring to a report that the name of Mayor Belen Fernandez is being dragged on a 22 calibre shooting crime against a local newsman. Oh! Yes, those too of Dagupan police Chief Chris Abrahano’s and PNP Region 1 Intel chief Marlou Chan’s. Chris and Marlou are known for their professionalism.

We would ask her how she was taking her critics’—or detractors’—broadsides. She would only wave them with her hand cum an understanding smile as if to say the negative comments were part of the territory. She’d shrug them off as election hangover, sour grapes, pleasing the boss and the like. We haven’t seen any sign of annoyance. She’d just let a trusted staff man (former Dagupan police officer Carlito Ocampo) to handle the matter.

Though Lito Ocampo was a barangay mate in Malued, Dagupan, our knowledge of his competence as an intelligence and security officer came mostly from our coffee drinking mate, former Regional Trial Court Judge Victor Llamas, author of two best sellers.

Kuya Vic and this writer used to be partners in DCNHS’ convocations to re-sell the school or give the graduates an idea of its products. What most people do not know of the brilliant lawyer from Rivera Street (he has moved to the more famous Barangay Malued) is that he is a lyricist, romantic, lover of truth ala Socrates and Shakespeare.

He yearns to collaborate with a woman book author on a book project on something that gently reaches the heart and soul.

An Ateneo law grad where he distinguished himself as a debater, orator, writer, Vic Llamas later took a brilliant law practice.

He has quit a life in the court in favor of something that matters most like poetry, literature and philosophy.

One of his most trusted aides was Carlito Ocampo during the cop’s greenhorn years. Llamas’ rating of Lito’s competence is A-1!

No wonder Mayor Belen treats him like her alter ego. Lito, says Vic Llamas, has a wealth of common sense, a sense of real politic and crime-solving acumen.

With Lito around, says the celebrated author of “How to Catch a Liar,” Belen feels safe.

*          *          *          *

Some people—and they may be right—are connecting the abortive assassination of DWIZ- Dagupan manager Orly Navarro to the odious MC Adore Hotel sale case.

That’s the tragedy.

If you ask us, we want the hotel purchase validated as soon as possible. Let the personalities—lawyers, property owners and buyers, protagonists, antagonists, etc….—meet on the matter on a strictly business manner and restore pronto the elegance and grandeur of what was then MC Adore International Palace!

We were the PR director of that hotel when then owner Mrs. Modesta Sabeniano was at her prime. No 5-star or 3-star hotel in Metro Dagupan today can match MC Adore’s exquisite appeal. It had a helipad, a revolving restaurant, a cocktail lounge with handsome singers/balladeers Joey Gabriel, Jo Esquijo, etc., a lounge where one could order a champagne and listen to fine music, etcetera.

Whatever happened to that elegant past?

We suggest, most earnestly now that Mayor Belen and Ambassador Tony Cabangun-Chua meet and iron out the kinks and give Dagupan the kind of hotel that it needs badly these days.

*          *          *          *

Our colleagues who should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted should rally behind newsman Ronel de Vera of Mangaldan in his crusade for good government. Ronel’s taking up the case against an erring public school official should be backed by media.

The case involves an encashment of a P71,671.63 hazard pay check that belongs to Mangaldan National High School Public Health Nurse Ben F. Castro—Ben Castro’s hazard pay check covering January to December 2010 was issued by the school’s disbursing officer Mrs. Brenda Liza Zamora in December 2010.

Instead of distancing themselves from Ronel, our colleagues should help him ferret out the truth.

In his affidavit and complaint with the Civil Service Commission, Ben F. Castro says he has been following up the release of the amount indicated in the check—and having been unsuccessful, for the release of the copy of the check which was supposed to have been released by Zamora.

Ms. Zamora has not acted on the requests of Castro despite repeated attempts. Castro, with the help of Ronel, anchors his complaint vs Zamora on the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, particularly Section I and Gross Neglect of Duty.

*          *          *          *

NOTES: the Martinez Clan of Barangay Malued will hold its bi-annual reunion at Mang Peping’s restaurant on October 25 after a mass at Eternal Garden for departed grandparents Don Felix Martinez and the former Maria Pilar Montero.

In charge of the proceedings is the Dy Family (Jose M. Dy and the former Alodea Martinez, with Bingbing and Jake Carvajal directing. Lake Peles and Bae Elang were born on the same day and baptized on the same day and the same church, according to their unending miracle story.

They were beloved parents of our Nanay, the former Aurora Martinez.

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