Playing with Fire
Are we the first Dagupeno at SSS Board?
By Gonzalo Duque
WE’D be hypocrite if we skip this item: we were just installed as commissioner of the Social Security System.
The agency’s chair, by the way, is a fellow Pangasinense from San Manuel town… former U.E. Law Dean Amado Valdez, kasama ni Jun V sa Club Filipino.
What does this new challenge in our life portend? It means we become young again! Ha?? Past 60 na tayo, and we are young again?
We want to share you this scientific and Biblical fact: when God gives you more work, more responsibilities for your fellowmen and away from yourself, you get rejuvenated. Especially, when you are focused on the welfare of others – community, country, the world and, most especially, God.
With our SSS work, we bade our DCWD co-workers “good-bye!” Nandiyan pa naman si Ope Reyna, who is also UL chairman. The water district is in good hands! In our short stint there, we have introduced concrete reforms and new ideas. We’ve given muscle and sinews to the axiom “water is life” to Dagupenos.
Mantakin nyo, we probably were the only water specialist without formal training on water technology.
But ok lang. God was and is our Teacher, our constant Gabay.
* * * *
On SSS, we exhort our Dagupan office to rise above their mindsets. We are confident they could do much better. We beg them to be models of public service. Stay client-friendly. Huwag hiyain ang tao. Attend to complaints with utmost care and love.
Walang mananalo diyan sa “love philosophy,” di ba, Ms. Linda Mujer?
Maybe we have to do strategic planning. You see, change does not happen overnight.
It’s a process. And it’s always good, dynamic, vibrant, soul-uplifting!
* * * *
We felicitate our son Nanoy for landing No. 15 out of 90,000 examinees in the latest Licensure Board for Teachers.
BTW, our other son Armand ranked higher — No. 12 out of 72,000 takers, 5 or 6 years ago.
You must be wondering about our family’s fondness for education.
Yes, probably, because we have a school, the LNU! We were LNU president for 18 years, giving us a doctoral in Educational Management!
Recalling aloud, we found out that our lolo, the late Francisco Duque Sr. was a principal at Aguilar Elementary School.
Of course, you know erpat, former Governor and Health Secretary Paco (Francisco Duque Jr.), founder of LNU! His namesake Pincoy is also now university president.
So, may pinag-samahan sina Nestor at Armand, right?
* * * *
When we came home to our beloved — hmmm … politically beleaguered – Dagupan, we overheard (again) those non-stop brickbats against our workaholic Mayor Belen Fernandez.
Ano ba yan? Inggit lang kayo, mga contras!
For our part, nadarama natin how deeply absorbed Mayor Belen is in improving public services.
Probably topping her agenda as of now is the blitz preparations for Christmas festivities, a grand holiday season hereabouts.
Have you gone to that decorated section of De Venecia Avenue, of course, near Barangay Lucao? It looks like Disneyland with a developmental theme!
Ganyan ka-creative ang mayor natin! Laging may bago! Exciting and Dagupan talaga with a dynamic mayor at the helm!
* * * *
Ok, but, as we always say, what’s important is what’s going on in the city’s unheralded sections…. There were the illegals and the immorals, the so-called filth and scum of the earth are worming their way.
But we heard na-aksyonan na ata ni Police Chief Col. Neil Miro, who assures that by the end of December, TOTAL nang malinis ang ciudad natin sa droga!!! Talaga?!! Well, we don’t want to be killjoy, but we trust Col. Miro.
Kaya, Mayor Belen, relax ka lang sa glowing report na ito on drugs. Gusto kasi ni Mayora yong data-backed, authentic, realistic, truthful account on Dagupan as drug-free!
Yan ang tunay na lider!
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