Spines to capitol employees: “You should have sports”

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

IN MY June 17 article, I said our new governor Amado Espino Jr. is a sports-minded person. He proved that before during his time as a police officer and he wants to prove it anew, now as governor of our province.

I was there in Lingayen during his buena mano flag ceremony speech to the provincial employees last Monday in front of the capitol building. During his 15-minute discourse where he gave some inspiring and analytical instructions to all the capitol employees. What caught my attention was he when said “you should have sports and should be done in the afternoon of Tuesdays and Thursdays and it’s up to you what kind of sports you have to play”.

It’s his way of saying that “a sport is good for the heart.” Or health is wealth.

I doff my hat to that. We really need sports to prolong our life, like what health professionals perennially say. A lot of people die of heart attack and stroke because they don’t have any exercise at all.

He also emphasized that as Pangasinenses, we should revive the Pangasinan culture and should know how to speak Pangasinan because it’s the official language of the province. He’s even mandated that the Ilocano-speaking capitol employees begin to learn the Pangasinan language because it will be the official language at the office

I can see the logic in that. The name of our province speaks for itself. Pangasinan is not La Union, Ilocos Sur or Norte.

He also said he wants to revive the cultural dance and choir group led by the Pangasinan National High School dance team.

He firmly stressed that all the capitol employees should be in proper uniform from Mondays to Thursdays and only on Fridays can they wear a civilian attire but still with restrictions: ok wear a t-shirt but at least with a collar, no slippers and no rubber shoes during office hours so everyone will look decent.

Espino also said that everybody must give respect to the positions that they hold, observe cleanliness inside and outside the offices and make it a habit. He wants cleanliness to be a Pangasinense way of life.

“I know some of you, what you did during the last election, violated your oath of conduct for a public government official. Three years after today, there will be an election again and God willing I will run and rest assured, guys, I will never ask anyone of you to help me in that campaign because I want you to maintain that dignity of being government officials and government employees,” Espino explained.

People from all walks of life expect him to seek reelection like what his predecessors did. Hitherto, according to a media colleague, the well-known broadcaster Tito Tamayo, he will be facing a formidable foe in 2010, that’s the former governor and now the second district Rep.Victor Agbayani.

That’s expected. The people know who the Agbayanis are. No need to elaborate.

Who will win?

It’s still premature to answer that question. Pero depende yan sa performance ni Spines, like what Tito ng Bayan said.

I agree with him. But I believe Spines will do a good job for the province, including sports development. He’s now an experienced politician and a public servant. Alam niya na kapag mahilig ka sa sports ay makukuha mo ang puso ng mga kabataan like what he did during the last poll.

I believe that’s actually one of the reasons why he won.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)

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