By Eva C. Visperas A groundbreaking medical procedure at Region 1 Medical Center’s (R1MC) Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Center restored the vision of a patient who had long suffered from severe eye damage due to a chemical injury. For the first time in Pangasinan, the Boston Keratoprosthesis, a…

By Rex Catubig “INTSIK tsonga”, “Tsikwa”– are just two of the monikers they are condescendingly called, implying disdain in how they are regarded, which reveals our bias and cultural ignorance. My father was privileged to enjoy a close association with the Chinese in the lumber business. I grew up…
Cultural Chinoiserie
By Ermin Garcia Jr. AGAIN! If you think the 7 epaLiFes have run out of abnormal precepts of how Dagupan should be governed, think again, because they have new views based on their position as the majority at the Dagupan sanggunian! After suffering serious major setbacks in their efforts,…
Damn if they do, damn if they don’t
By Gonzalo Duque THERE is not much excitement anymore in the deliberations of the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod. From what I understand, all questions, legal or political, have been resolved by the DILG regional office headed by Director Jonathan Lausen Jr. But I gather that the Honorable Redford Erfe-Mejia made a…
Why dispute what’s good for Dagupan?
By Leonardo Micua ONE of my favorite senatorial candidates, second only to former Senator Ping Lacson, is former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson who has withdrawn from the race, citing his failing health as his reason. Like former Senator Ping, Manong Chavit is a pragmatic politician who calls a…
Chavit chooses his battle
By Farah G. Decano THE presence of strong opposition must not be feared by our populace. It is when there is no open resistance at all against our government policies that our democracy is in serious danger. This could only mean that our liberties are restrained by some force…
A strong and reasonable opposition
By Eva C. Visperas IN the world of public service, it’s not every day you come across someone like Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman — someone who combines expertise, compassion, and integrity in ways that leave an indelible mark on both her colleagues and the people she serves….
Losing a true public servant

By Rex Catubig IT was the ’70s. The world was on the cusp. The world they were born in was fast transitioning into the world they were growing up in. They were born at the tail end of the Platters as the world began gyrating and twisting with Elvis and Chubby Checker, screaming to Hard Day’s…
DCNHS and KB Chorale: Keeping the music playing
By Ermin Garcia Jr. AT the third edition of “Punching Duo” (myself and Punch columnist Gonz Duque) podcast with Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez as guest, we heard her sum up her accomplishments despite serious challenges from the opposition from 2022 to 2024, in what I believe is her…