By Eva C. Visperas   THERE are days in local governance that leave you quietly hopeful, and there are days that leave you unsettled. Last week in Pangasinan, we experienced both—and the contrast could not have been sharper. I was in Calasiao on August 29, standing among local officials, transport…

By Eva C. Visperas   WHAT makes Vietnam a big hit among tourists? As someone who loves exploring our own Pangasinan and other parts of the Philippines, my trip to Vietnam last month made me ask: Why are they drawing in more tourists than us? Curious and eager to visit…

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…

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…

By Eva C. Visperas   ONE chapter closes, another one begins. In Dagupan City, leadership transitions can be more than just changes in designation — they become moments of gratitude, reflection, and renewed hope. This was felt strongly during the send-off and welcome ceremony held on August 4, as the…

(A Tribute to Sir Ermin Garcia Jr.) By Eva C Visperas   SOMETIME in 1991, a young woman walked into the doors of The Sunday PUNCH — unsure, unpolished, and quite frankly, terrified. That woman was me. But Sir Ermin opened the door wide — not just literally, but also figuratively….

By Eva C. Visperas   DAGUPAN City is in distress. For several days now, relentless rains, habagat, high tide, have caused widespread flooding that submerged homes, destroyed livelihoods, and displaced families. The people are wet, weary, and waiting for help. It is in these critical times when leadership should be…

By Eva C. Visperas   EMPLOYEES of the Dagupan City government came together once more at the city plaza – not just to pray but to remember on July 16. With heads bowed and hearts full, they marked the 35th anniversary of the powerful 1990 earthquake that changed the city forever….

By Eva C. Visperas   DAGUPAN City has seen better days— and worse ones too. But as we witness a fresh dawn under the renewed leadership of Mayor Belen Fernandez, one cannot help but draw inspiration from her journey. If there’s a story to be told here, it’s that of…

By Eva C. Visperas   I have almost forgotten how it felt to attend a Sangguniang Panlungsod session of Dagupan and leave with a light heart. For the past three years, I stayed away from covering the city council. Not because I had lost interest in the goings-on of local…