Opinions
Editorial
Another unenforceable Comelec rule
THERE must be something inherently wrong with the mindset of both the voting populace and the candidates vying for positions that Commission on Elections (Comelec) has to set stringent rules and guidelines on campaign activities. Over the past decades, Comelec issued rules vs. vote-buying, designation of common poster areas, limitations…
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Punchline
BSL’s lesson for 7 epaLiFes
By Ermin Garcia Jr. THE 7 epaLiFes were seen grasping at straws in desperation to escape culpability over the possible loss of the P150 million fund for a Mother and Child Hospital (MCH). They finally and hurriedly passed the required resolution, authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign a memorandum…
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Out of the fire
The perils of public service
By Gonzalo Duque AS I was writing this column, I was informed that the Ombudsman has dismissed the administrative case filed against my brother, former Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, in connection with the transfer of funds from the Department of Health to the Department of Budget and…
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Random Thoughts
Is Brian afraid of Belen?
By Leonardo Micua I have yet to fathom why former Mayor Brian Lim opted to run for vice mayor of Dagupan instead of settling an old score with reelectionist Mayor Belen Fernandez. Instead of a return bout between Mayor Belen and Brian, his mother Celia is taking up the…
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G Spot
The corruption of the party list system
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo THE party list system empowers those already in power. A politician or businessman can represent the disempowered and the marginalized just by espousing their advocacy. As a result, most of those who represent the party list system are entrenched family dynasties and representatives of big…
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Andromeda’s Vortex
Money talks a lot
By Farah G. Decano WHEN I first ran for Councilor in 2001, some concerned relatives informed me that this political exercise was also a competition among angkans or clans. Those who were “mabuleg” or have a lot of kin members were more likely to win. Candidates must not only…
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Newsy News
The pulse of Pangasinan politics
By Eva C. Visperas AN urgent message beeped into my cellphone. It was October 3, around 8:21 a.m., when I received an alert from a friend saying that Sual Mayor Dong Calugay is about to file his candidacy for re-election in the May 2025 elections. I was busy at…
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Sports Eye
They came, they saw, they conquered
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr. SANS doubt, I believe the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) owned by former senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is one of the major national sporting events in the country today. Records show that our beloved province already produced standouts in Philippine basketball: Marlou Aquino and…
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Entre’acte
Bonfire of banalities: The fire of October
By Rex Catubig “ I Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” ― T.S. Eliot YOU’D think that fifty years of friendship would be arduous for ebbing memory to process and recall. But for twelve unending hours one Saturday past, memories…
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Life with my lens
A PHOTO ALBUM OF “PROMDI” LANDSCAPES
Photos and short narrative by Art G. Valenzuela I would consider myself as one lucky guy as I am both a city boy and a “promdi” who has access to both city life (as in Dagupan City and Metro Manila) and rural-provincial life. Every week – coming from either Dagupan…
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Sunday Life
Dagupan City Hall 1960s
Through Lolo’s Lens: Dagupan in the 60’s By Norman Valenzuela MY Lolo Marcial was the official photographer for The Manila Times. He preserved his collection of vintage black and white camera shots which has become the source of inspiration for my father, Art G. Valenzuela, who pursued a career in…
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Punch Forum
Greetings Mayor Belen Fernandez – My name is Victor Reyno Junio, a resident and a registered voter of Sitio West America, Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City. I have now returned to Canada after my 5 months stay in our City. I am blessed and privileged to have 2 countries I call…
To further improve on the online security of our readers, recent changes have been made to the “x-frame-Options”; for the website https://punch.dagupan.com/ , that runs on the popular WordPress platform. (The “x-frame-options” HTTP header is used to control whether or not a browser should be allowed to render a page…
WEAKENED WAWA BRIDGE - A part of the Wawa Bridge, renamed Romulo Bridge, collapsed when two loaded dump trucks, one loaded with aggregates and the other fertilizer- crossed at the same time 3:17 p.m. last Thursday, halting vehicular traffic between Bayambang, Pangasinan and Camiling, Tarlac. (Punchphoto by Butch UKa)
Magandang araw po! Ako po si Christian Mark V. Rico, isang mag-aaral sa pampublikong paaralan sa Dagupan. Sumulat po ako upang ipaalam ang aking saloobin tungkol sa mga kaso ng COVID-19 dito sa ating bayan. Nakita ko po na mas dumadami ang gumagaling sa COVID kesa sa pagdami ng kaso.…
Dear Mr. Garcia; I visited your office Sunday Punch and got interested in your column (Punchline) about garbage of Dagupan City. There is a solution to solve this perennial problem of the city I had proposed this to the newly elected young Lim. Now, clearly my proposal will not…
UNLISERBISYO DAHIL kompleto na ang proyektong ito sa Sitio Polong-Sentro, Brgy. Pantal, "smooth na smooth" at maayos nang nakakapasok ang mga mag-aaral sa Pantal Elementary School sa nagsisilbing access road patungo sa kanilang paaralan. Ayon sa mga residente, "Malaking tulong po sa amin na hindi na nababaha ang daan namin".…
PANGASINAN Brotherhood-USA President Sue Ann-Tumakay paid tribute to her fellow provincemates for their collective spirit and unwavering dedication that defined Pangasinan community. Citing her colleagues for their positive values during a gala night last week, she said the PB-USA is a testament to the enduring legacy and steadfast spirit of…
THE Bangus Taekwondo Club of Dagupan City put on an impressive performance when it amassed three gold and one bronze medals in the recently concluded 2024 SMART/MVPSF National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships last October 5-6 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Sanctioned by the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA), the two-day event was participated in by 2,000…