Editorial
Pangasinan soul
APRIL and May, the summer months in tropical Philippines, are the best time to plan a visit and tour of Pangasinan, not only because of its inviting beaches lining the Lingayen Gulf but to get a glimpse and take part in the colorful celebrations of the province’s culture, history, and unfolding development. Three of the biggest festivals in the province are held within this period – the Agew na Pangasinan (Pangasinan Day/founding anniversary – April 5), the Bangus Festival of Dagupan City (April 1-30), and the Pista’y Dayat (Festival of the Sea – May 1).
It has only been in recent years that the arts and history been given a venerable spot in Pangasinan’s annals, and credit is largely due to the initiatives of the administration of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. who understands that a society that knows its past, traditions and culture fosters people who take pride in who they are and where they come from. And with pride comes a determination to give back by making their hometown proud. Agew na Pangasinan embraces and celebrates all that is Pangasinan – its music, dance, literature, visual arts, food, economy and, of course, its people. For, indeed, a province with a soul is one that can grow and bloom.
A similar cultural awakening, so to speak, is taking place in Dagupan, an independent component city that has long been the commercial trading center of Pangasinan. Mayor Belen Fernandez, like Espino, is springing the city towards a Balon Dagupan through its innovative platform for reform and good governance, which does not forget the inclusion of arts and culture appreciation. This is reflected in the celebration of the Bangus Festival, which has expanded from honoring the city’s main economic product to a party bursting with cultural attractions.
The Pistay Dayat, the oldest and perhaps still the most identified with Pangasinan, has also been given a new spirit in recent years with meaningful events that not just pay tribute to the bounty from the deep but highlight the need to protect the sea.
So come now to Pangasinan and feel its soul.
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Totally insane
HOW can the Philippines be guilty of damaging its ties with China after the Philippines sought the help of the United Nations to resolve their territorial disputes at South China Sea? Where is damage in the Philippine action to involve Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) provisions to the nagging waters rift? Aren’t both China and the Philippines signatories to Unclos, a global document that the United States said must be respected when used by any state in seeking to resolve dispute mechanisms?
Why China even considers a request by the Philippines to have a go-between in their sea squabbles as ties-impairing is beyond logic. If China doesn’t want Unclos to step in, fine. But to say the Philippines is out-of-order in this diplomatic offensive is totally insane. If damaging ties is what China wants, what about China’s ship blockade to stop Philippine ships from re-supplying its troops on the disputed waters, not to mention obvious bullying tactics China had done us in the most recent past?
Look who is talking.
