Playing with Fire
Go for it, Guv’nor Spines!
By Gonzalo Duque
I HAVE addressed him Guv’nor Spines – without the “elect” anymore— because by the time you are reading this, our new governor, small but terrible Amado “Spines” Espino would already have taken his oath as Pangasinan governor.
Hooray, Spines, congrats, again!
Also, happy birthday, sir Spines! How young are you now, Guv?
Prof. Nick Melecio loves to relate to the baby boomers of Pangasinan, the voluble lot during the late 60’s and early 70’s who already showed signs of becoming leaders of the province and country “someday,” that one of the big names was Amado Espino.
Yes, along with Nick, Ben Untalan, Bayani Caguioa, Mario Panoringan, Manny Gatchalian, the late Pastor Vicente Resultay, who were all from the old LCCBA, now University of Luzon. And from the University of Pangasinan, then called Dagupan Colleges, the shining stars were Magno Cornel, Armando Ravanzo, Johnny Amor, Dante Velasco, Mel Malicdem, Phil Celi, Art Tangco, who else?
These guys started student and youth activism in Pangasinan, which would later add the names Nestor Pulido, Jun Velasco, Ermin Garcia Jr., Jones Campos, Tony Hombrebueno, and other young militants.
It was during this period when Jun Fuertes and Pepot Ilagan were introduced to me by Jun, which resulted in their printing KM and NPA manifestoes in our Polyclinic mimeographing machine. NPA did not mean New People’s Army, but New Pangasinan Alliance which included the late Danny Florida and Manding Fernandez as members.
Spines a little later entered the military and along with fellow Lieutenant Arturo Lomibao were tasked with keeping watch over their “fellow activists.” Did you know that the duo, Spines and Art were the captors of Kumander Dante? Later, Spines also captured the dreaded Fred Cabarlo, the number one outlaw of West Pangasinan.
I have given you a brief background of our governor to show that he has a broad and rich experience as a leader. Of course, his military career was colorful and had not politics seduced him, he would have become a general like Art and Rey Velasco.
But it was just as well because from congressman, Spines became governor, a giant killer because he defeated a political legend, the Agbayani name.
Last week, Spines, who was guest of honor of the LNU nursing capping ceremony, and I had a nice chat on his new job, and what he intends to do as governor. The history of Pangasinan, we agreed, should be well researched so that we can at least know the year and the exact date of its having been chartered.
It was necessary so that we know where we came from, our identity, and sense of the past.
The provincial capitol, the Maramba Blvd, the Agbayani park and more ideas such as changing the names of the public buildings and the street around the capitol with names of former Pangasinan officialsalso were discussed animatedly.
Look, what do Malong and Kalantiaw mean to you and me now?
I must say, Spines is a very knowledgeable person, and so I took the opportunity to solicit his support re my favorite unfinished drug rehab center in Burgos. Being a former peace and order leader, he knows the value of the project.
In the near future, under his watch, Pangasinan may host again a Palarong Pambansa and the PRISSA games, to show our ability to successfully host these big undertakings.
We did it before, and we can easily do it again with Spines ensuring its success. Ok ba, Gov?
One sore thumb that jutted out from the governor’s cursory glimpse of the province is the fact that the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in Bolingit, San Carlos City has been voted one of the top three nationwide.
And yet, Spines sighed, it is usually overcrowded, meaning it lacks facilities, so what does that mean to the people’s health program? Spines will zero in on this.
Lastly, the governor seems to be interested in Congressman Mark Cojuangco’s idea of a new air port in Laoac town. It will serve Pangasinan’s expanding eco tourism, which by the way is Spines’ pet idea.
Someone has quoted him – and to which I agree – that in this country, the best industry should be in the realm of tourism. The Hundred Islands, the Manaoag Shrine and the new airport will give substance to Governor Spines’ dream of a progressive and prosperous Philippines based on a thriving and successful tourism industry.
Go for it, Spines! We are behind you.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/)
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