By Leonardo Micua THE sudden resignation of two top executives from the Pangasinan provincial government two weeks ago has sparked widespread speculation. The resignations of Provincial Administrator Melicio Patague III and Provincial Accountant Marlon Operana came as a shock to many. Both had been with Governor Ramon Guico III…
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo IN 1981, September 21 was declared by the United Nations (UN) as International Day of Peace, a global observance dedicated “to strengthening the ideals of peace through non-violence and a temporary worldwide ceasefire” through Resolution 36/37. In 2001, the UN General Assembly passed a second…
September 21
By Farah G. Decano AN elected public official’s duty is a sacred trust. It is a commitment to serve the people and protect the public purse. At the very heart of this immense responsibility is the power of oversight — a power that ensures that every peso of public…
Extent of Sanggunian’s oversight powers
By Eva C. Visperas WHAT was supposed to be a quiet Sunday night last September 14 turned into one of the most alarming evenings Pangasinan has experienced in recent memory. At around 9:00 p.m., I came across a post on Facebook that sent shivers down my spine — a…
Lessons from a little angel
By Rex Catubig IN Biblical times, God directed the Israelites to smear the doors of their houses with the blood of a lamb as a sign to set them apart so that the Angel of Death would pass them over and spare them from imminent harm. Today, the blood mark…
CATARACT AND HEARING AID: Flood Scandal Alert
By Gonzalo Duque WHY is corruption in the Philippines everywhere, or shall we say, every corner? While the flavor of the month today is the rampaging floods visiting our archipelago, we are merely scratching the surface. It is no longer surprising that no less than South Korean president Lee…
How far can a commission go?
By Leonardo Micua THE latest rigodon in the Senate, which saw Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III succeeding Francis Escudero as Senate president, hardly came as a surprise. It was, in fact, an ouster waiting to happen. When Sotto’s closest ally, Senator Panfilo Lacson, exposed in a privileged speech the existence…
Senate shake-up
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo THE last time I had my glasses on was a few hours ago, while reviewing the files of three NGOs where I used to be a Trustee. I recall having gone down to the ground floor to cook. That was around 7:00 p.m. After having…
The woman by the well
By Farah G. Decano PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has a historic opportunity to reshape public perception and restore trust in the government through the newly formed commission investigating fraudulent flood control projects. To make a lasting impact, his administration must pursue a strategy of swift and decisive action…
Supermajority’s Stolen Thunder?
By Eva C. Visperas GO to the Capitol area. Hug the trees there. Soon, they will be gone. A total of 192 trees will be cut — vanishing from our sight, living only in our memories. On Monday, September 8, 2025, I went, as I always do, to the…




