Punchline
Unbeatable
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
AT the rate things are proceeding in Dagupan City, it appears Mayor Belen Fernandez will not meet any serious opposition or contest from any right-thinking politico in 2016.
You have to hand it to her. She has accomplished a lot more for the city than all that her predecessors had accomplished put together. The only two remaining missions on her plate that remain to be “work-in-progress” are her dream declaring the city as drug-free and illegal fish pen-free!
So if anyone would wish to contest her reelection in 2016, it can only possibly on those two issues: to make Dagupan drug-free and completely rid the city’s rivers of fish pens 24/7! Other than those, no one and nobody can refute what she has done for education, health. sports and culture, peace and order, livelihood, waste management, fiscal management and administration, disaster management, etc.
Beat that!
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TOUGHEST BATTLE. The continued ability of drug syndicates to operate in the city though in three neighborhoods in Barangays Bonuan Binloc, Bonuan Guest and Pantal in spite of efforts of the Dagupan police to stalk drug peddlers in the streets is what continues to bother residents.
Nothing has been heard about any effort on the part of Binloc Kapitan Pedro Gonzales, Gueset Kapitan Rico Mejia and Pantal Julie Perez and their respective barangay councils to lead the campaign against illegal drugs in their communities. Why? This, in spite of the fact, that their barangays are notoriously known in the region, not only in Pangasinan, to be the hotbed of drug peddlers. Is it possible the three kapitans think or believe that Mayor Belen does not have the political will to make them do what is expected of them?
Then there is the bunch of businessmen and barangay kapitans who constantly dare thumb their noses at Mayor Belen, defying her orders to stop constructing and operating illegal fish pens in the city’s rivers on every turn. One wonders what it is about Mayor Belen that they think they can literally get away with murder in the city’s rivers. Have they made themselves believe that they are “Untouchable Special Friends of the Mayor?”
In both situations, Dagupeños can only wish Mayor Belen has a super power to make the drug personalities and unscrupulous businessmen vanish in thin air with a flick of her fingers, or a wink of an eye.
But perhaps, Dagupeños don’t have to wait too long. She might just be waiting for her “powers” to be fully recharged and suit up as ‘Super Belen’ in the weeks ahead for her much-awaited toughest battle in governance.
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SEAMLESS PARTENRSHIP. Now that the Duterte-Cayetano team is being patiently formed for 2016, it could just be the doctor’s prescription for quick political relief for Guv Spines’ festering political migraine.
Guv Spines who is partyless, thinks he is being forced to swallow a medicine that will color his heart ‘yellow’ simply because he cannot rejoin NPC, the party banner of Cong. Mark Cojuangco and supporter of VP Jojo Binay in Pangasinan. An option to join another party-less tandem, Poe-Escudero will earn him no quick relief since the duo is aligning itself with NPC as well.
Paraphrasing our Fire Player Gonz Duque, jumping into the bandwagon of Duterte-Cayetano is seamless and carries no political complication, and, therefore, good for Guv Spines’ heart. The medication will certainly have no complication since Cayetano, as NP secretary-general, will likely be supported by majority of the NP party. It means, he has no political baggage in Pangasinan.
As the two colorful political stars call it, “Real Change is coming.”
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COLONIAL MENTALITY. Thank God for the brouhaha created by many youngsters who openly wondered why Apolinario Mabini was seen always seated in all scenes of the Heneral Luna.
A seriously, major flaw in the Department of Education’s touted K to 12 system and module was unearthed – that Philippine history was scratched as a subject, completely considered as unimportant.
I believe our educators have not learned their lessons well in the past particularly in understanding why the once nationalist and patriotic Filipinos suddenly metamorphosed into citizens with colonial mentality. Recall that the Philippine government postwar had agreed to the US government’s decree that henceforth, US history should be taught in all grade schools in the country. Since then, ours became a damaged culture because we were taught to appreciate anything “American.” In fact, that policy was instrumental in making it a dream for Pinoys to apply for US citizenship and renounce Philippine citizenship. (Sen. Grace Poe did just that, didn’t she? But that’s another story).
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FLAWED EDUCATION. What did our government do in a bid to cut the colonial mentality? It required schools to adopt Pilipino as the main medium for teaching and learning basic subjects. The result? From being a country with high literacy and the only Asian country whose population could speak and write English, we became a nation that have lower literacy and have difficulty communicating in English with the world. The passing grade in government board exams have plunged to less than 50%. Why? Because the exams are in English!
Now comes the policy of K to 12, practically making our next generation forget our rich history, culture and heritage by sidelining Philippine history as a subject for our young. Our education officials were so absorbed with coping with systems and standards of education of other nations ignoring the fact that we have (now had) a system that works. Proof of this is the continued huge demand for Filipino professionals and workers who were educated in that belittled 10-year primary to secondary education.
Anyway, in sharp contrast, and fortunately for Pangasinan, our provincial government has made the study of Pangasinan history and culture a mandatory subject today, something that my generation (baby-boomers) missed. This policy will at least keep our children rooted to their proud beginnings as Pangasinan citizens.
One big BOOO to the Aquino government (for its flawed K to 12), and a loud cheer for the Espino administration (for its promotion of Pangasinan heritage)!
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THE BOOK TO KEEP. Speaking of throw-back images when life was good and happier, I had a fun time going over the pages of the Rotary Club of Dagupan’s 50th year coffee table book put together by the club’s illustrious past president. Dr. Viven Villaflor Jr.
While the book highlighted the club’s great past and how it has evolved over the years, the images, names, events and activities, listed and described literally gave me a narration of a great part of the history of Dagupan City and its people. (Being a Dagupan Rotarian at age 21 in 1969 and being with the club until 1972 was one of the best memories I have of my years in the city. I had to drop out when I was sent by the military on an exile, out of Pangasinan, during martial law).
That book is definitely one that’s for keeps for today’s and future generations whether one is a Rotarian or not. For Viven, this is another legacy he has made for himself. It was evidently a labor of love because he dared to be the historian-editor -publisher of a memorial book on top of being a busy medical practitioner. It was a venture that I myself would have had an extremely difficult time organizing it, to say the least.
Take a bow again. Viven! (And, thanks for my personal copy!).
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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