Pangasinan has no clear history?

By Gonzalo Duque

ON the occasion of Dagupan City Day last Wednesday, we locals couldn’t help but be proud of the city’s history. Can we say the same of our province?

Sadly, we cannot. We congratulate the outgoing Agbayani administration for the construction of the Maramba Boulevard and, also, well, well, how’s this? And of the Governor Agbayani Park.

Naman, naman, how about the other governors? Silang dalawa lang ba nina Maramba at Agbayani ang pwede?

I am disappointed that up to now, we have no definite record and celebration of a Pangasinan Day. There are records, yes, but nothing   definitively clear. The one we observe on November l3, which is the birthday of the late Eugenio Perez won’t tally with the province’s founding day which must be somewhere in the l4th century. That should be its anniversary day.

When Papang was governor of Pangasinan and secretary of health, I used to have encounters with politicians in our home as I overheard them doing chismis on public – and also private, he he — issues.

 Pangasinan  politicians the likes of  then Vice Governor Toning Villar, father of  anti-smuggling czar Bebot Villar, Board Members Vic Millora (papang called him “Tingting”,  Art Padua ( both are still alive), the late Vice Governor Porfy Sison, father of my sister in-law, Mita,  and many others including then 2nd District  Congressman Joe de Venecia Jr., Mayor Amadito Perez. 

What I saw and heard means that not much has changed in the way politicians tackle political subjects. It’s the art of compromise all the time, and the Machiavellian “me first, or our party first” before others.

We of course inherited our kind of politics from the Americans, because it was they who taught us democracy, although much of our nationalism was enriched by our national heroes led by Jose Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini and the like.

You must have heard from our local leaders the city’s history, from the times of  Don Angel Fernandez,  who was a former congressman; Don Alipio Fernandez, Sr., father of  reelected Mayor Al, Don Teofilo Guadiz Sr., lolo of  DOTC  asst. secretary Jojo Guadiz, and lately, outgoing Mayor Benjie Lim, he with a   very nice valedictory report.

Our Dagupan has its ups and downs, for instance, wala pa yong magandang city hall, but on the whole, it has made us proud even if   it has not been as progressive as those in the Visayas and Mindanao like Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, or those within   Metro Manila.  So many factors have hindered our faster pace of progress, and we don’t solely fault our leaders for it. They have done their best, and we salute them for what they have done for the present generation.

Let’s thank them; they have kept the banner of progress aloft. We are growing in our pace. Can we still move faster, Mayor Al, Speaker Joe?

*      *       *

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is showing her “balls” because some Cabinet secretaries are not up to par. BIR Commissioner Mario Buñag was axed because tax collections fell short of l2 billion for its collection target. My grapevine says, more heads will roll.

At this juncture, congratulate anti smuggling Czar Bebot Villar because he is showing his fangs this early. Marami raw smugglers ang na-apprehend last week. Don’t be surprised if he will be appointed Bureau of Customs commissioner soon.  His name is matunog among power brokers in Manila. Sana di tayo makalimutan ha, pare Jun?

My younger brother, Dr. Francisco the 3rd (because my papang was a junior) has proved to be a tough worker. He was even the champion czar against corruption having succeeded in making the DOH number 1 in the government’s fight against graft and corruption in the government.

Many are surprised at Pingcoy’s work ethic. Kumakasa, lumalaban. Look at the big guns he is fighting these days. The multi billion milk manufacturers who want to replace mother’s milk with their breast milk substitute.  And he is also in the war front against certain senators and congressmen who   succumbed to millions of lobby money in order not to pass the cheap medicines bill.  Mga loco mga ito a.

May I appeal to Speaker Joe de V to whip their “behinds” so they will behave. Di pa sila naawa sa mga mahihirap? I urge you, dear readers, to write your congressmen to support the cheap medicines bill.  

      I’ve been advising him to be more careful. But he is like Papang, basta good cause, walang takot. Sana ganun din ako ano? Matakutin ako e.di ba, Manny Baby? Ayun, ok na spelling  ng pangalan mo.  Huwag ka ng iiyak ha? Please tell you beautiful wife Auring that I often humor you because you are my friend. Pasamano la sirin.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments