Think About It
Violence in Bayambang deplored
By Jun Velasco
“No one will ever maintain that it is better to do injustice than to bear it.” – Aristotle
FORMER Speaker Jose de Venecia’s step mother, Porfiria Domagas de Venecia, widow of the late Judge Jose R. de Venecia Sr., who was fondly addressed “Mama Pering” or “Mommy Pering” quietly passed away a few days back leaving a love-filled, dignified and eventful life as a former civic woman leader of more than a hundred years. She was 104.
She was the well-loved and lovingest biological mother of our bosom pal, their only child Roberto, alyas Tito, former Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary and director, Miss Philippine Beauty Pageant.
Her remains will be interred today at the Mt. Zion Memorial Park in Bonuan Boquig. We request the pious readers to pray for her eternal rest.
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We missed the “tikoy” on Chinese New Year’s Day. The reason given by city press officer Joseph Bacani was that “we prepared for 200, but 2,000 came!”
But we had a great time with Filipino-Chinese friends, the familiar faces we’ve known since childhood who have done a great deal in the development and growth of the city.
Mayor and Mrs. Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez were a sight to see at the city auditorium, and to the native Filipino-Chinese who have been egging the two officials to bury the hatchet and jointly work sans their business interests, no word was sweeter to hear than Benjie endearingly addressing her “Vice Mayor Belen Lim Fernandez” in his speech.
The city, for a while, was Ongpin and China Town for one whole day on January 23, declared non-working holiday by President Noynoy, a Chinese mestizo.
What caught our admiration was the young Chinese choir’s beautiful rendition of “ Malinac lay Labi.” Most of the songs, dances and plays depicted Chinese culture, which we Pinoys have learned to value and treasure because of our harmonious and fruitful relations.
In fact, our local politicians in the city are now studying political science under Chinese tutors.
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Government authorities should look into disturbing reports that “unscrupulous individuals, believed to be left-leaning and posing as members of peasant groups have arrived in Pangasinan, and have instigated rallies and other forms of mass protests in some parts of the province.”
It was gathered that in Bayambang, a certain Rodolfo Natividad who represented himself as the president and spokesperson of Ulopan na Umbaley ed Camp Gregg Military Reservation Incorporated has led a small band of informal settlers to participate in protest actions.
The report further stated “in a dialog arranged between a family of informal settlers and the representative of the land owners, the group of Natividad, most of whom are strangers to the community, surreptitiously arrived and meddled and muddled the supposedly peaceful negotiation between the parties. In the guise of protecting the rights of the underprivileged informal settlers, Natividad cried that the informal settlers are victims of alleged land-grabbing.”
Now here’s the catch. The troublesome group is after the neck of Governor Spines. How?
Let’s go back to the report: “Those who have identified themselves as members of the Ulopan na Umbaley ed Camp Gregg Military Reservation have callously tagged Gov. Espino to be behind the alleged land-grabbing.”
A check with Espino resulted in a firm denial. The governor has denied any interest on the parcels of land that is the subject of the dispute.
We urge the authorities to investigate the real agenda of the intruders.
We learned that the group was positively identified as “the perpetrator of the violence which in one of their protest actions where a certain Alekhine Millavas, in the company of Luduvico Mejia Jr., Emeterio Paningbatan and Bernadito Dizon, shot and wounded on the head a police man identified as PO1 Gerund de Guzman who responded to the scene. Another officer identified as PCI Rufino de Leon was also fired upon, but was not hit.
We are calling the attention of our friends, Provincial Director Colonel Boyet Ricaforte and Bayambang Police Chief Gerry Rojas to act on this bizarre report, pronto.
Why bizarre report? Because the duo love to describe province as one of the most peaceful in the region.
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