Filipinos in the US want the SK abolished too

By Gonzalo Duque

SAN FRANCISCO, California — Thru the internet, we are getting Philippine and Pangasinan news daily here.

We must thank Ermin for introducing this technology, yes, for his global outlook. Because of the Sunday Punch, Dagupenos in the US are well informed of Pangasinan affairs.

Know what?  It seems Dagupenos here are more abreast with local chismis in our city there.

We are really surprised that many of them, Fil-Am residents here, are intimately aware of the things that our “name people” are doing there.

Did you know that what we missed to know (amay agtayo asagap ya balbalitad tan, amta dad dia?).

Their being well informed and knowledgeable about local news and chismis there is more than just what appears in the internet. Ganyan katindi ang mga taga rito, mas dakel so amta da nen say siak about Dagupan local goings on.

The reverses that our former Mayor Benjie Lim has encountered such as the Awai landfill fiasco are known everywhere here. To our simple view, we blame Benjie’s poor staff work. He was not given full details about the projects, deals, agreements he was entering into.

We shall reserve comment on these things which we shall be doing when we get back to the Philippines, hopefully in two weeks.

* * * *

Fellow Pangasinenses and Dagupeños here share the view that postponing the barangay and SK elections to 2009 is an unpopular stand. Well, we have cautioned Manong Joe de Venecia about this, as we know he is inclined to have it postponed to 2009.

Agaylay kaarawi to met, Manong Joe!

We could only understand our manong. He probably had assured the kapitanes and SKs in the last elections that by an act of congress the polls can be reset.

Manong Joe forgot that   there is a senate to contend with.  We’ve wanted to tell manong Joe that majority of our people want elections, as they want to effect change in the local leadership structure including that in the barangay level.

Lalo na siguro sa mga youth or kabataan. We have tackled this in past columns. Our argument is shared happily by Dagupeños here. They say that instead of providing the young meaningful activity such as an avenue for leadership training and community service, the SK has become a vehicle for graft and corruption. Why and how, you ask.  Well, due to their elders’ manipulations such as employing dirty and foul means to win in elections the young got exposed to distorted and wrong practices too early.

We do not know how the government will reform the SK, but we know it knows what we are driving at. The barangay political system, especially its youth sector has acquired a very obnoxious smell.

We certainly miss the days when we tried our hand in youth and student; leadership activities, yes, without the interference or prodding of our parents, such as our forays in the Dagupan Varsitarians and other youth groups. No corruption issues were raised because we did not have politician parents to impose their will on us.

* * * *

 Irresponsible quarters are trying to drive a wedge between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Speaker Joe de Venecia as a consequence of Joey de Venecia’s well publicized difference with the First Gentleman over the controversial National Broadband Network contract. They   will be disappointed. The two are broadminded and won’t allow an outburst of emotions to derail   their working relationship which has spelled so many successful projects and programs for the country.

Let’s hope the two pillars of the Philippine government will successfully steer the controversy to a peaceful and reconciliatory end. It will not be difficult to do that considering that they have everything to lose if they break up.

Let’s also urge the war freaks, the intrigueros, the enemies of development to back off and allow the forces of good to prevail.

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

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