Lingayen cityhood long overdue

By Jun Velasco

CONGRESSMAN Joe de Venecia’s debt-to-equity plan looms as a simple yet dramatic solution to the huge gap between the rich and poor countries on our planet, especially those in the Third World.

On paper, the plan is doably cute, be-all solution, which can come only from the creative mind of JdV.

At lunch last Sunday, JdV tells us the Italian ambassador has endorsed the idea — and, for that matter, its initial implementation — in his country, Italia. That means it would be Italy that   will take the lead in realizing it, and with that, he says,   most of Europe will follow suit.

If  successful there,  the plan  will be  adopted and implemented   in most  countries in the entire Europe, although we in the  Asian Third World  that have  more  poverty-shrouded  countries and therefore bedeviled by the proverbial economic  chasm.

The scenario promised by a realized JdV Plan looks good. The problem is,  we may really succeed in bridging the gap  on paper as spelled out  by the plan, converting   multi-billion loans into  economic investments  by  lender countries,  but if the shadow  of corruption is  not expunged, won’t  the whole caboodle crumble to pieces, manong Joe?

This  brings us  to  the self sufficiency  campaign  by our  rice growers who, it seems, have  not  learned   from  the  corrupt practices of top  government officials  who don’t hesitate to  chisel  on rice imports.  Some hocus pocus goes on unabated out there. 

It’s interesting to listen to JdV, he with the most  creative ideas, zero in on corruption as the  root of  Asia’s  most  laggard  economy due to corruption, and so we asked why he hasn’t  done it  when he was speaker. He quickly tosses the blame on certain forces more powerful than he.  Is it the system, Kuya Joe?  Here we go again!

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If true that the capital town of Lingayen is eyeing cityhood, it would be wise for our local government managers to give it to the Lingayenses, who have soundly rallied behind the ciudad movement.

Observers do not fail to see mushrooming improvements in the birthplace of former President Ramos, and no less than Mayor Jonas Castañeda hasn’t stopped biting his nails why of all the capital towns in the country, Lingayen seems to have been consigned into a town forever.

It’s admirable that the townspeople have elected to ignore the high costs of cityhood and modernization, such as higher taxes and more sophisticated amenities for urban living when they voted for cityhood. Mayor Jonas says the Lingayen folk know how to face up to their responsibility for their actions.

Those who haven’t seen the capitallately may not understand   the Lingayenses’ drive for cityhood.  Their newly built presidencia and unceasingly improving plaza and, yes — this is the punch line — their sky-bound income has made cityhood long overdue. What about it, cityhood author, Guvnor Amado “Spines” Espino?

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Among the l5 awardees of Diwa, Salita at Gawa and the Publishers Association of the Philippines, the non assuming writer par excellence, former Press Undersecretary Cesar M.  Carpio touches most writers’ affections. And why not?

Cesar, in case you don’t know yet, has already hit the writing stardom during his teenage years yet. He was former Press Secretary Greg Cendaña’s trustee in conceptualizing media programs that have effectively bridged the government and the masses during the country’s difficult years under Martial Law.

Although Ilocano by blood, Cesar has deep roots in cosmopolitan Pangasinan.

Cesar was former editor in chief of the prestigious Graphic magazine, People’s Tonight and Headline. One who never brags of his sterling traits, was a topnotch TV and broadcast talent, producer and director.

The revered TV newscaster icon, Bong Lapira,   considers Cesar his mentor, partner, beer drinking mate rolled into one.  Mon Tulfo would   usually ask Cesar to speak for him whenever he finds himself in a bind. We know, what are soul mates for?

His award is undoubtedly a recognition for his world-class talents in both broadcast and print journalism.  Saludo tayo dian.                  

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Another unassuming honoree by DSG is former Barangay Tapuac chairman Alfredo Dawana who, though San Francisco, USA-based, hasn’t lost his love for dear new sitiomates in Tococ, Lucao of Barangay Chair Lino Fernandez.

His acceptance speech, written infallibly by his “ide” tells of one situated far away aches for dear loved ones at home.  Read his shorty but meaty message somewhere in the news page.

DSG is Ruben Rivera’s brilliant program which has been running for the last 30 years teaching people how to think and analyze issues. Congrats!

(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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