By Eva C. Visperas WHEN I was a child — several decades back — I used to look forward to the carnival, or as we called it then, the karnabal. The sights, the sounds, and the thrill of saving a few coins from our baon just to enter the…
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By Rex Catubig I was raised on Caton, that handy vernacular alphabet primer that looked like a thin prayer book. While we had the primer on hand, the teacher wrote the alphabet with chalk on the blackboard, said them one by one, and we would repeat after her. It…
The Anatomy of My Education
By Gonzalo Duque THE theatrics going on in both chambers of Congress are amusing me no end. In the House of Representatives, the Committee on Accounts and its sub-committee, chaired by Rep. Terry Lidon is leading investigations relative to the use of flood control funds. I presume that Senator…
Investigations and blame games
By Leonardo Micua BUSINESS tycoon Ramon Ang, chairman of the board and CEO of San Miguel Corporation, has once again made headlines with a dual proposal for Metro Manila. In addition to offering a flood control solution at no cost to local governments, he intends to build a waste-to-energy…
The wasted opportunity for a WTE in Dagupan
By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo I’M in Pozorrubio with the sound of the crickets. Or is it just the ringing in my ears? I think of you, inside a car, driving to the north, cellphone in hand. I also see my sister Lydia in a yellow flowing dress, with a…
The persistence of memory
By Farah G. Decano THE collision between a People’s Liberation Army Navy ship and a Chinese Coast Guard vessel—while they were busy chasing a “puny” Philippine skipper—was a global spectacle. Unfortunately for China, the impact was more than a fender-bender at sea; it was a full-blown face-plant heard ’round…
Mangled Mianzi
By Eva C. Visperas AT a time when the West Philippine Sea is often a theater of intimidation, coercion, and calculated aggression, rare moments of tactical brilliance remind us of the courage and skill of our defenders. These are moments that not only lift the nation’s spirits but also…
Salute to the guardians of the West Philippine Sea
By Rex Catubig ARELLANO-Bani was not always bustling. In the past, it was merely the route that led to Bonuan Catacdang and onwards. In the ‘70s, aside from the honky tonky joints, the only identifiable establishment in the area was the Dawel seafood restaurant, whose name derived from the…
The Drowning of Arellano St.
By Gonzalo Duque IT’S been two weeks since I last wrote my column here. The weather has not been kind to us. We saw how the entire province of Pangasinan, including Dagupan, was flooded for many days. Then came the sad news of the death of our dear friend,…
Missing my dear friend Ermin
By Leonardo Micua THE recent actions of Dagupan City’s lone opposition councilor, Librada “Dada” Reyna, have sparked considerable discussions and scrutiny within political circles, particularly given the current composition of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. With an overwhelming “Super Majority” of 11 members allied with Mayor Belen Fernandez, many are questioning…
