Business Log
Malasiqui’s public market and politics
By Eva C. Visperas
Two weeks ago, the second floor of the Malasiqui public market was inaugurated. It coincided with Mayor Alfonso Soriano’s birthday celebration.
Of course, socialite Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas was their special guest. Mayor Ponsing’s “idol” Local Governance Undersecretary Antonio “Bebot” Villar Jr. was the guest of honor and speaker.
And since it was Malasiqui’s big event, Vice Governor Oscar, himself a former mayor of the town, joined the VIPs present.
I must salute Mayor Ponsing and the Sangguniang Bayan Members led by Vice Mayor Osmund Lambino, the vice gov’s brother.
Why? First, because they were able to construct the market sans any loan from any government bank. You see, many local government units in the province onstruct their markets through huge loans like Dagupan City, to cite an example.
Second, the entire second floor was turned into a food court similar to the ones in malls to give shoppers or market-goers a convenient place to dine.
It was actually my first time to see a municipality that devoted its public market’s second floor for food court.
The rest of the towns in Pangasinan have their kainan, pananganan (food courts) or whatever you want to call them, scattered around the market where diners don’t feel comfortable to eat. When it rains, the area is flooded. When it shines, the place is too hot. But not in Malasiqui.
Now, why was Baby A present?
As you may have already read in our previous issues, Baby A.’s daughter, Rachel, is eyeing the third congressional district this coming 2007 elections. The Arenases have bought a farm in barangay Nancapian many years back in preparation for Rachel’s congressional bid.
Rachel enjoys the full support of Mayor Ponsing as well as Vice Gov. Osky.
That is already a public knowledge.
Last elections, Mayor Ponsing’s elder brod ran for congress against Congressman Gener Tulagan. Tulagan is also grooming his son to succeed his throne as he is now in his last term. But observers say Junjun Tulagan must first develop his ability to communicate with people and must overcome his being shy in a crowd.
“Masyadon mabaing amo tan ngalngalin aga mansalita (It looks like he’s too shy and he seldom talks),” a high ranking official whispered to me.
Was the presence of Usec Villar in the affair an indication that he’s also pro-Arenas?
No, no, no señor. Not yet. It’s still too premature to conclude that.
Usec Bebot weighs things properly and squarely before he gives his support as well as his group (Biskeg na Pangasinan) which incidentally originated in the third district, to any congressional aspirant.
Politics is just a small world and friends and foes alike definitely meet each other in any event. Usec Bebot also graced the recent Bayambang town fiesta where its mayor, media’s idol, Leo de Vera, is also an early bird in announcing his intent to run for Congress.
About three weeks ago, Usec Bebot was also with Cong. Gener during the Calasiao’s water district project groundbreaking rites.
But, of course, all the three possible congressional aspirants are trying to woo Usec Bebot.
But who will be the lucky one?
I can tell you as soon as I get the go-signal from the Usec maybe several months later.
(You can also read this writer’s other stories at http://businessblog.prepys.com.)
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