Playing with Fire
Congrats, Guv’nor Spines!
By Gonzalo Duque
ON the occasion of Governor Spines’ first year anniversary last July first, we wish to say something good about him. So, Butch, it’s not true that we have changed political color ha, when you read our glowing article about Congressman Victor Agbayani, who is salivating to stage a gubernatorial comeback,
We start with the sparkling look of the Capitol and his official residence, Princess Urduja.
Offhand, the new governor beat his predecessor on this account. And many others more, we like to think. Just watch for future developments. We’ll tackle that later.
The Capitol building and the Urduja have been beautifully renovated, acquiring new beauty, clean-ness and dignity befitting the premier province and the dynamic occupant, diminutive but big in goals and determination.
Truth to tell, the new use of Urduja as residence has impressed a lot of people. Bakit nga ba ginagawang opisina yan noon? Mali, di po ba?
Well, everyone is talking about how presentable and dignified those buildings are, but like Jun V, hindi pa tayo nakakaapak dian, lalo na saUrduja. Exclusive na raw ang gamit kasi, eh.
Next in Spines’ A-l performance is the streamlining of his staff, lean and mean, ika nga. Dapat lang, at nawala na raw ang mga insecures. Wala ba si Orly and Atong sa payroll? That’s another “must,” if you ask us.
He has weeded out excess fat. Walang NPA — non performing assets. Panay work-oriented. Bravo, Governor!
When you decide to go to the Capitol and Urduja, those coming from Dagupan will not fail to be mesmerized by the beauty of the Maramba Boulevard, although that was a feat of then Governor Victor. It gives us a glimpse of a premier and star-studded province as Pangasinan.
So, okay ka, Guv, congratulations!
Sana man lang, ipa calendar yo met la may pan schedule niyo ng founding date of the province. Singa itayo bogkalot, walang defined history. The Pangasinan Day that we are celebrating every year is the birthday of the late Speaker Eugenio Perez, father-in-law of former Speaker Joe de Venecia.
It should be observed as such but not as Pangasinan Day or Pangasinan Founding Day. In case you don’t know, we are about to observe Pangasinan’s 400th year if we base it on available historical reports that it was founded on l6ll, the year the University of Sto. Tomas was founded.
Mantakin mo, Spines, it would be under your governorship that we shall be turning en masse on the streets to celebrate our 400th year. Go for it, Sir Governor. Like what we said earlier, our Lyceum Northwestern University is more than willing to act as your research, technical and information arm for this effort.
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We received from our e-mail a letter from Ben Mendoza from California, who reported that Lyceum Northwestern U graduate, Stephanie Siapno Calimlim just passed the NCLEX for nurses in California.
Here is Ben Mendoza’s letter: “Mabuhay at maong ya agew ed sicayon amin ditan ed Dagupan.
I would like to commend your institution (L-NU) for its outstanding academic instruction for the Ma. Stephanie Siapno Calimlim who successfully passed the NCLEX (RN) exams last June l8, 2008 here in California, USA. She graduated from LNU last 2006 from your College of Nursing. I am grateful and proud of your school’s fine products as they are very competitive here in the US. Stephanie is looking forward to apply at Stanford University Hospital (Palo, Alto CA), O’Connor Hospital (San Jose CA) Valley Medical Center (San Jose, CA) and El Camino Hospital (Mountainview, CA) once she gets her license in two weeks. Mentioned hospitals are some of the best in the bay area.
This is a testimony to your excellent instruction. Please extend this success to all your future medical graduates.”
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We’ve seen the Pacquiao-Diaz fight on the big screen. It’s one event that Filipinos felt very proud about. You see, even a sporting event with a great Filipino player like Pacquiao, the outpouring of joy and pride is inevitable. Pacquiao indeed has become a Philippine phenomenon who has significantly helped unite and weld us into one body.
Mabuhay ka, Manny Pacquiao!
(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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