Malunggay, marunggay, moringa By Marifi Jara QUELIMANE, Mozambique–By vegetable standards, I could have been a poster child. I consumed the whole lot. And I’m not just talking about the typical green-therefore-disgusting variety that most children abhor like pechay, repolyo, kangkong, or green peas. Say slimy okra and saluyot? Bring it…

Bataoil shows preparedness for a new job By Jun Velasco IN a short chat this week, we got a glimpse of Noynoy Aquino’s character. Honest, clear-eyed, patriotic with a road map of the country’s future, the senator won’t mind diving in the approval ratings if raising it has a pecuniary price. No doubt, he has his parents’…

A toast to Gov. Spines and Pangasinense By Gonzalo Duque WE just made history. Hooray! Last Friday’s regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was not an ordinary day, if you ask us. It was on that day when Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., who is described by Mayor Amado Perez as “the best governor…

“Separation of Church and State” By +Oscar V. Cruz JCD It is both funny and strange when the standard battle cry of “Separation of Church and State” is fervently and loudly invoked when certain individuals in tenure of a public office feel frustrated in their ethically questionable options or meet…

Pan-Ams impressed by Pangasinan improvements By Jun Velasco IT’S becoming crystal clear that the May elections will be a reality, whatever the doomsayers say. The killjoys will have to wait for another elections to see their game played. But judging from the depth, intensity and character of the campaign, it will be a rough sailing. The…

Belen Fernandez back on track? By Gonzalo Duque AS the election campaign begins, all the candidates seeking our precious votes have started acting in many funny ways, putting up their ridiculous antics. There they go, donning forced smiles, flexing their muscles for firm handshakes, wearing thick hides and false faces to hide their hurt…

Vulgar. Lewd. Gross. By +Oscar V. Cruz JCD Happy Valentine! Short time! Free condoms! How long could supposedly high public officials in this government go? How juvenile could such seemingly responsible adults be? To what extent would they entice young people to be promiscuous unlimited? How far are they willing…

“Do not panic!” By +Oscar V. Cruz JCD The often cited valiant yet actually disturbing, fearless but precisely distressing yell, is in fact three-tiered: “Do not panic! Relax lang! Kayang-kaya ito!” Given the saddening recent past, the now gloomy existing present and the forthcoming uncertain days of the socio-economic situation…

A wake up call on Dagupan’s Finest By Jun Velasco LOCAL broadcaster Harold Barcelona complains that Dagupan City’s law enforcers “are sleeping on the job.” His heart was bruised by a heart-wrenching event last Monday. His l9-year old son, Erwin, was inside a Bonuan-bound jeep when attacked by four thugs…

Politics of vindictiveness By Gonzalo Duque WE were — or possibly, we still are — for Noynoy Aquino being the son of principled parents, Ninoy and Cory. But at the rate he is sounding like an unforgiving if not vindictive leader of the land, we tend to agree with the…