By Eva C. Visperas   RECENTLY, I embarked on a week-long journey around the Fourth District of Pangasinan, accompanying my dear friend Gypsy, who, after a seven-year hiatus from public view, is back in her vibrant and glamorous self. Gypsy’s return was not just a casual visit; it was a…

By Eva C. Visperas   A LITTLE flashback from last year’s major events in Pangasinan. October 2023 was historic. The agreement for the partnership between Pangasinan and San Miguel Holdings Corporation for the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) was signed. November 2023 was equally memorable. It marked the groundbreaking for the reflecting…

By Eva C. Visperas   I will miss the trees behind the Capitol complex. They had been cut down. Some netizens perhaps cried, feeling sorry for the fallen trees that can never be brought back again. I will not dwell on the debates about this tree-cutting issue at the Capitol…

By Eva C. Visperas   THE aroma of the humble yet heartwarming soup, a staple for struggling students at the school canteen, triggered a nostalgic journey as I strolled through the grounds of my alma mater, St. Louis University (SLU), in Baguio City after 36 long years. I was back…

By Eva C. Visperas   TIMELESS dance music. Irreplaceable. It’s our genre. It’s a way of life. This sentiment particularly resonates among those who embraced the dance crazes of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s groove songs. Whenever the beats echo, my body takes over me, moving involuntarily. The rhythm and…

By Eva C. Visperas   I left Dagupan in February 2023, after serving as its City Information Officer for a brief period. Since then, I have been bombarded with the same question from different people: What’s happening to Dagupan? I feel ashamed to admit that I don’t have a clear…

By Eva C. Visperas   IT’S not surprising at all to see the number of surviving World War II veterans decline over the years, a somber acknowledgment of our mortality. Each commemoration of the Lingayen Gulf Landings and Veterans’ Day by the Pangasinan provincial government provides insight into the passing…

By Eva C. Visperas    AS we welcome the dawn of 2024, I find it necessary to write about the disheartening situation that characterized my beloved hometown of Binmaley throughout 2023. I wrote this piece on New Year’s Day with a deep sense of concern for the well-being and future…

By Eva C. Visperas   FOR countless years, December 26 has marked a special occasion – the birthday celebration of the esteemed five-time Speaker, Jose de Venecia, Jr. or JDV for short. Each year brought anticipation and excitement, marking a highly awaited period for relaxation, even if just for a…

By Eva C. Visperas   THERE is always a first time! Yes, we often hear this cliché in various aspects of our lives. In the past two weeks, I experienced two significant firsts. The first was receiving the Writers’ Prize Award from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts…