By Gonzalo Duque   I want to congratulate all the winners in the recently concluded local elections. And best wishes to those who lost and accepted their defeat. To those who lost but are still at it, continuing with their politics, better luck next time. When I attended the proclamation…

By Gonzalo Duque   I congratulate Mayor Belen Fernandez for a victory that is well-deserved. Honestly, I was surprised by her huge margin of victory of more than 14,000 over incumbent Mayor Brian Lim. I surmise that maybe, the 14,000-margin was the consequence of the miscues not only of the…

By Gonzalo Duque THE elections will be over by Monday, and as far as Dagupan City is concerned, methinks the ticket of Belen Fernandez and Bryan Kua is unbeatable. My sense of Mayor Brian Lim is he devoted too much of his time, even when he was still vice mayor…

By Gonzalo Duque   I’M sorry, I missed my last week’s column because the extremely high heat index at 54.39 degrees made me feel a little weak. So, I decided to have a complete rest. I fear that the high heat index we’ve been experiencing over the past weeks, may…

By Gonzalo Duque   I sympathize with the bereaved family of former Mayor Belen Fernandez and her siblings on the demise of their beloved mother, Doña Remedios Tan Vda de Fernandez. The Fernandez matriarch was a model mother having been a Pro Ecclesias et Pontifice awardee, the highest award given…

By Gonzalo Duque    AS we celebrated the founding anniversary of Pangasinan on April 5. Ging Cardinoza, a member of the ad hoc committee tasked to conduct a research on the day, month and year when Pangasinan was founded, said it was Governor Amado Espino Jr., father of incumbent Governor…

By Gonzalo Duque   THE political budget of Dagupan is dead. My information sources tell me the budget is now a reenacted one, with all the insertions made, whose purpose is merely political, already gone with the wind. That means that today, the battle is not only about having a…

By Gonzalo Duque   MAYBE Dagupan City Hall is already missing the presence of former City Administrator Vlad Mata, whom I consider a good administrator. Vlad, a former councilor and experienced in budget-making process, would have readily addressed the various procedural and substantial problems at city hall.  He is definitely…

By Gonzalo Duque   I HEARD President Duterte’s speeches when he was still running for president that the presidency is a matter of destiny. I believe him. But when he said the next president must preferably be a lawyer, compassionate and have also served as chief executive in the local…

By Gonzalo Duque   I AM really for Oscar Orbos to win in the First District of Pangasinan. He’s been a governor, congressman, executive secretary and Department of Transportation and Communications secretary. I can say that today’s congressional battle is the most important challenge for him. I really do hope…