Punchline
They who live for others
Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE Espino administration should be congratulated anew for honoring a distinguished group of professionals and business people with its Annual ASNA Awards.
The organizers and the selection committee performed again creditably with their choice of this year’s awardees.
I particularly support the selection of Dr. Viven Villaflor, Philstar editor Amy Pamintuan, former DENR Sec. Vic Ramos, former Energy Sec. Francisco Viray. Dr. Perla Legaspi and Fr. Jerry Orbos! In my book, their selection is long overdue. Their achievements are their own legacies today.
I have not met Rebecca Bustamante, Dr. Cecilia Daranciang and Emilio Estrella Sanglay Jr. but I am equally certain that their selection passed the high standards set by the committee.
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OUTSTANDING PEOPLE. Pangasinan has produced thousands of citizens that make Pangsinenses proud wherever they may be. They will not all make it to the ASNA awards annual list but surely their non-inclusion at anytime does not make them any less in standing as men and women of probity, who did small and big things for their neighbors and communities.
In this regard, The PUNCH will be happy to list the many unsung heroes in our midst in our pages. We will start a section where we will acknowledge persons who are recognized by their peers, friends and beneficiaries whose lives were touched by these great, yet, simple men and women.
This is how it will work. Email or mail to us the name of the person who you think made a difference in one’s or others’ lives. Tell us why (in not more than 20 sentences, the briefer the better) why the person deserves to be recognized. No standards or criteria will be set, only the nominating person’s own criteria will matter EXCEPT FOR ONE RULE – one cannot cite his/her parents and siblings because that is a given fact! And no politicians and elected officials please.
We shall call the section– “They Who Live for Others” Submitted names of nominees, their address, reasons for nomination, and name of nominator will be published every issue.
(For contributions, email to punch.sunday@gmail.com or mail /drop off to: Sunday Punch, 2nd Flr. Duque-Tiongson Bldg. A.B. Fernandez Ave. Dagupan City. Tel 072-5155601. Attention: Editor).
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A DISAPPOINTING MAR ROXAS. Last week, Interior Sec. and “anointed presidentiable” Mar Roxas was in town to perform a number of political chores and appearances. Most notable of his assignment was his distribution of ‘Fish-finder,’ a GPS instrument for fishermen. That was great!
As he went through the motion of appearing before crowds to define himself, I had hoped he would say something about DILG’s “Rotating OIC-Provincial Police Directors” policy since 2013 has created many difficulties for provincial governments in coping with the demands of peace and order, particularly in the campaign against illegal drugs and gambling. I had not expected Mr. Roxas to apologize in the manner as was expected of his Boss PNoy on the Mamasapano massacre case but I sure did hope against hope that he would assure Pangasinenses that he would make up for his faulty policy by causing the appointment of a permanent police director, say in 30 days.
But I guess, I was wrong about my impression of him after following his political career over the years. Nothing of that sort happened.
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ANOTHER “TEKA-TEKA”? However, I was deeply bothered by the information that one of his handlers around him actually barred one question from local reporters during forums and ambush interviews – about the appointment finally of a permanent PD in Pangasinan. I have no reason to doubt that attempts to pursue the issue did happen because the local media have been watching out for developments about it for a long time. So was that a directive from Mr. Roxas himself to be spared such questions? But why? Is he always avoiding a possible misstep with his Boss PNoy?
The obvious “iwas-pusoy” stance of Mr. Roxas today is a big disappointment knowing he is the chosen heir to his Boss PNoy’s throne. If he is another “Teka-teka” political animal that refuses to act or to address a threat and a problem because of political considerations, then he should know better than hope to be president some day in spite of his touted integrity.
If only perhaps he has shown any initiative to be at the forefront of a national campaign crossing swords with illegal drug and illegal gambling syndicates in order to save thousands of families from the syndicates’ clutches, his politically-motivated rotating OIC policy could even be perceived as part of his strategy to beat the evil forces of our time. But he didn’t, and he sure appears not to be least inclined to initiate anything close to it.
Fortunately for us, Mr. Roxas’ being a political heir does not translate to his certain election.
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PREPARING FOR CONTINGENCIES. Climate change is here with us. And the unusual heavy downpour that rained on the Bangus Festival parade in Dagupan City last is proof of it.
We certainly we can no longer hope to experience long hot summer days and plan for grand festivals without possible rude interruption from Mother Nature. The months of March to May have been traditionally reserved for blazing colors, travel time and family outings, fun at the beach and mountain resorts. Well, that’s not how it’s going to be from hereon.
I’m afraid, there can be no longer be the usual long dry or wet season but short extremely hot periods that augur well for forest fires and conflagration, and long periods of storms and typhoons that will keep farmlands underwater, homes washed away by rushing flood waters.
The payback time is here. Preparing for contingencies is already a must for any planning to be made.
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HAPPY PEOPLE! Watching the street dancing parade under heavy downpour while crowds cheered the drenched dancers and beat drummers gave me an exhilarating feeling.
I was watching a happy people who knew how to enjoy the littlest cause for happiness and pleasure!
Mayor Belen F. was right to promise the happiest Bangus Festival yet! So let’s celebrate till May 1!
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PLUGGING THE LOOPHOLE. Still on the illegal fish pen that continue to fester the Dagupan City hall, I received a suggestion that would not only end the finger-pointing but help in the regulation of the city’s rivers.
It is suggested that the city council adopts an ordinance requiring individuals that seek to use the river for livelihood by installing structures or contraptions, to post their names and the registration numbers from the City Agriculture Office, numbers of official receipts reflecting payment of corresponding fees in their areas of operations, ETC.. And penalties should be prescribed for failure to comply with the ordinance, etc.
That is perhaps the loophole in the city’s fishing ordinance that should be plugged ora mismo. This is a job – crafting that draft ordinance – for an honorable councilor looking for more worthwhile things to do while celebrating!
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