A cheapened Honor

WHAT does it mean to be a Pangasinense? What does it take to be one? Or to be officially adopted as one?

Our Sangguniang Panlalawigan board members cannot give a clear-cut list of criteria. There are, in fact, no defined conditions as to who can be bestowed the honor of being an adopted son or daughter of the province.  Perhaps that is because the power of the SP to give such a recognition is deemed to be in the hands of elected board members who have the intellect, integrity and propriety to determine who are truly deserving of it — not as a means for political ends. But alas! We are seeing now that this power is being abused.  And the condemnation comes straight from among the ranks of the board members.

Mincing no words, Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. said naming Interior and Local Government Sec. Ronaldo Puno as an adopted son of Pangasinan — at this point in time when Puno has already announced his unequivocal plan to run as vice president in the May 2010 election — has “cheapened and diluted the privilege of official adoption. His fellow board members Alicia Pulido and Angel Baniqued have also decried the move, saying naming Sec. Puno sets a bad precedent.”

And we agree.

Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, presiding officer of the provincial board and author of the resolution, defended the move saying the majority believe in Sec. Puno’s exemplary performance and pointed out assistance he has extended, particularly to the provincial police in terms of providing vehicles, and is set to arrive for a visit. If Sec. Puno can be an adopted son for doing his job and for visiting, will the province now bestow the same honor to other campaigning politicos coming to town? We hope not.

The present SP has so far adopted as sons and daughters of Pangasinan business tycoon Lucio Tan and the 15 members of Da Vita/ Bridge of Life Foundation that donated 15 dialysis machines for the Mayor Julian Resuello Dialysis Center. Note that they are all private citizens, not public servants, who responded to a calling beyond their own personal agenda, and therefore, deserving. In contrast, our government officials, like Sec. Puno who is responsible for local governments, are duty-bound to facilitate development and by the public nature of their positions, expected to give nothing less than an excellent performance.

A whimsical (read: politically-motivated) awarding of the status trivializes the value, pride and honor that we should be upholding in being a Pangasinense. It compromises the identity that we set for ourselves.

We must become more discerning about whom we welcome and embrace into our family. The board needs to sit down now and start drafting that criteria list and amend the resolution for Sec. Puno accordingly.

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments