Think about it
New Deal for Dagupan City
By Jun Velasco
Nature and wisdom always say the same.— Juvenal
WE were momentarily taken aback by the unusual turn of events in Dagupan City’s political play recently.
Before it tumbled into a defensive position, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez’s all-for-one, one- for- all camp (that’s Councilor Alfie’s phrase) was slightly ahead of Mayor Benjie Lim’s minority camp in credibility rating.
Let’s face it.
Belen was quite successful in pushing Mayor Benjie Lim’s camp against the wall on the overpricing of calamity funds.
Gonzalo Duque’s Media in Action would have given Belen the best vehicle for a coup de grace and finished off Benjie’s waning political stock.
But what happened catapulted Benjie’s 2-man Debating Team to overwhelming victory.
Providential, we say. Actually, it was a pyrrhic victory, because the team won by default.
Press club president Gonzalo Duque, who was trying hard to neutralize the mega points that vaccrued to Councilors Brian Lim and Red Erfe Mejia, downplayed Belen’s embarrassment by humoring his best friend, Councilor Chito Samson, who — had he shown up– would have blown the minority duo into smithereens.
No less than our venerable publisher Ermin Garcia Jr., who was sympathetic to the SP majority was utterly dismayed and forced a thumbs-up to the worthy one.
Say it’s a typical fight. The side which balks, hesitates or shows cold feet loses.
Some suggest Belen should lose no minute to rearm and arrange with Gonzalo for another face-off.
We won’t advise it. She would be hurdling the sneer of the gallery, the price of losing.
But did Belen and group lose really? In our book, no.
What happened or what did not happen could be Nature working at its best… a call for a departure from the city officialdom’s chronic if nauseating fight mode.
These days, the city, just like the province of Pangasinan, is in the thick of a big month-long event, the much celebrated Bangus Festival.
It’s one moment the city folk would pause from day-to-day routine to celebrate and count their blessings. It’s a moment they’d say thank You, Dear God for the many bounty of the sea and our river systems.
Mayor Lim is mighty proud of the yearly “bangus festival,” being its principal author.
Because of its yummy taste, our bangus has put the city on the world map. Mayor Lim piloted the Longest Bangus Grill that landed in the Book of Guinness and so, his being thrust into the city’s political totem pole at this point in time, to use a hackneyed phrase, might have the approbation of Divine Providence.
For all intents and purposes, this city which prides itself for having sired the country’s longest serving former House Speaker (five terms) Joe de Venecia built two landmark infrastructure projects that have dramatically changed the face of the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis. His beautiful wife and congressional successor, Gina, is ably carrying on his legendary work for the city.
We suggest our cumpadre, the charismatic Al Fernandez, still widely addressed ama ng Dagupan, lead in forging a New Deal for Dagupan — a grand political reconciliation — so that, together we make the first step in launching the Dagupan City of our Dreams.
What do you think, fellow Dagupenos?
For her part, we suggest VM Belen and her whole council make the first bite to shed off petty politics from their auras and schedule pronto a call on Mayor Benjie, and say, ” Mayor Benjie, let’s work together.”
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NOTES: Dave Paragas, an improvement on his popular father, Leo, is getting married on June 8. Lucky life partner is Danica Paula Solis…. We heard she is related to Dr. Rolando Solis, who was Ninoy Aquino’s physician, during his confinement at Baylor hospital in Dallas, Texas.
With the help of Leo Palaganas, we were able to see and interview him in l980 when the senator could not give an interview as part of the deal with the Marcoses. Best wishes to the new couple!
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