Playing with Fire
Real objective of bangusfest
By Gonzalo Duque
FRIENDSHIP, sometimes, is just a matter of getting to know the person better.
We came to this impression after we met last week a critic of this column and probably this columnist, too…. (we can’t separate the act and the actor, you know).
We’re referring to balikbayan Ed Pontaoe Tiburon, a Pangasinense who now lives in the U.S., who has been criticizing us or some column items we wrote. Good thing we bumped into each other at Pedrito’s Restaurant while he was on vacation here.
Our meeting was pleasant. We found Ed, a retired U.S. National Guard based in Illinois, friendly and cordial.
We think he had left for the U.S., but he might be back to join Pawil Pangasinan in Balon Dagupan.
As they say, “walang sarap ang samahan kung walang alitan” (paminsan minsan lang naman. If it gets overdone, paktaylo!).
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We received a report that former Tapuac Barangay Captain (also former Dagupan ABC president in the 60’s and 70’s) Alfredo “Alfred” or “Apring” Dawana just planed in from California.
Sa palagay natin oking oki na si Kuya Apring sa bangus program ni Mayor Belen Fernandez. Wala na ang pet peeve ni Kuya Apring—the illegal fish pens. Ha. Ok, may natitira pang kaunti (about 30 fish pens) but Mayora gave the fish pen owners ONLY up to April 30 to do their thing. After that, malinis na malinis na ang ilog Dagupan! Promise ni Mayora tan. And we believe her.
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Mainit si ka Apring sa fish pen kasi nababangga niya ang mga ito pag nagbabalotong umuwi sa Tocok, Lucao. But he knows that ang nagpalago—o nagparami—ng fish pens sa Dagupan ay noon pang gasping days of former Mayor Benjie Lim. Earlier, BSL was doing well vis a vis the fish pens. But later corruption permeated his administration; the rest is history.
The rest is history! Nope! Mayora, we’re told, won’t allow it because she knows that “crime does not pay.”
The scintillating scenes—colorful tarpaulins, buntings, posters, billboards everywhere! — that ornament the city streets are meant to bring the message across…the city government wants to restore the glory of the fishing industry in the city.
Three days ago, a Bangus Summit was held at the Star Plaza attended by fishpond owners and operators and fishing stakeholders, processors, growers, traders and the fisherfolk to track down what’s thwarting the city’s capability to attain the highest in production and, of course, marketing! That should be the goal and objective of the ongoing sea festival. The merrymaking, the frolic are just the so-called pampagana sa serioso at malalim na program. Ipagbunyi si Mayora Belen!
We heard from Foofadci president Ed Maramba and Secretary Mon Santillan that exciting daw ang exchange ng mga Summit participants. Mayor Belen was happy kuno. She restated the FINAL DEADLINE for fishpens to pack up.
Incidentally, Engr. Ric Mayo an hour ago gave assurance the dredging of the city’s rivers will ensure robust production.
Mabuhay ang fishing industry of Dagupan.
It’s April 30, folks!
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Ok, moving to another subject, but still related to local governance.
You probably know Ms. Rosemarie Teng, former head of the city’s tourism department. As you all know, she feigned ignorance regarding the River Cruise boats that mysteriously disappeared the whole time. The boats were claimed as a “private property” of BSL masquerading as a Dagupan property. But que barbaridad ang gasoline at salary ng mga operator kuha sa ciudad!
Ms. Teng must be made to account since the cruise project was her responsibility. Hindi naman pwede na porque sinabi niya na property ni BSL eh tapos na. Why did she authorize the release the use of public funds for a privately-owned operation?
It’s with a little anxiety that we wrote this because friends natin ang mga Tengs especially Kuya Pol and Atchi Dolly but accountability demands it.
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