Think about it
All 3 bets for vice gov are courting Spines’ eyes
By Jun Velasco
TEXTING from Papua New Guinea, kabayan Wilson de Vera of the FVR (Friends Voting for Ranjit) group says: “Manong Jun, paki-abot ang masugid kong pasasalamat sa mga sumusuporta sa pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan para sa ating mga kababayan.”
Wilson is, at this writing, in that sparsely populated country (land area is double the size of the Philippines but with only 7 million people) to introduce modern fishing methods and “strike a package of business contracts that would accrue to Pangasinan’s socio-economic growth.”
A native of Calasiao and kin of former Mayor Celso de Vera, Wilson is a self-effacing entrepreneur who wants to run again for board member so that he “will have a vehicle to help Governor Amado Espino Jr. push Pangasinan’s economic vision.”
* * * *
Salute the University of Luzon for scoring three national honors lately. Its secretary general Chito Samson texted us Friday that alumnus Rufu V. Navarro Jr., placed 7th in the national board for electrical engineers.
Over a cup of coffee at Pedrito’s earlier, UL president Macky Samson couldn’t hide his excitement about the school’s winning the national championship in the drum and bugle corps competitions.
At around this time, scholarly sister Aurora Samson Reyna texted us that the university has received from the Commission on Higher Education an automous grant — an ace recognition for academic excellence — and has joined the league of La Salle, UST, Ateneo de Davao, Miriam, and a few others.
* * * *
Not to be outdistanced, Lyceum Northwestern University president Gonzalo Duque, last year’s Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities president and this year’s Private Association of Athletic Association (PRISAA) president is a powerful “consultant” to CHEd chairman Dr. Manny Angeles and ardently introducing painful reforms in the country’s educational system. Not very long ago, two LNU’s nursing graduates placed tenth in the most recent board.
Last year, Colegio de Dagupan’s nursing alumna, Rizza Tamayo, daughter of local broadcaster Macky Delgago, placed No. 6 in the national board.
All this dramatically shows that in their own excellent and admirable way, our own local institutions of higher learning — without the infusion of massive capital — are heroically beating the odds and carving an enviable niche in advancing the frontiers of knowedge hereabouts.
It would take many years if not impossible for Phinma to show its edge in the field because even by their own merits the present system in Pangasinan is working. And there is a “Pangasinense thread” that roots for his own knowing the natives’ admirable role in the region’s socio economic and cultural growth.
* * * *
Whether the promoters of a No-El (no election) succeed or not, the political equation in the province tends to exhibit a partiality for the present occupant of the provincial capitol as a political kingpin.
Take the jockeying for the post of vice governor. All the known aspirants — Board Member Alfie Bince, Mayor Ferdie Calimlim and former Vice Gov. Ranjit Shahani —are courting the attention of Spines as to who is the fairest of them all.
In their minds’ eye, Espino is the man to be beat, and to be his candidate for vice is insurance for victory, goes the argument.
The disturbing silence in the “opposition’s’ candidate for governor already gives the impression that Espino would be unopposed. Veteran analysts including those rooting for Espino’s prospective opponents such as the Agbayanis, Cojuangcos, Estrellas, De Venecias grudgingly acknowledge Espino’s pole vault jump up in Pangasinan’s political firmament. Well, the diminutive Espino has shown that he is second to none in organization and performance. His seeming Achilles Heel, it appears, is his sharp tongue which is inconsequential.
* * * *
Moved by the sports facilities of Pangasinan, particularly the Narcisco Ramos Sports Complex, our friend from way back, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Harry Ang Ping told Pangasinan, Dagupan and Lingayen officials led by Governor Espino, Mayors Al Fernandez and Jonas Castaneda that he would have big sporting events held here instead of in Manila. Harry was also impressed by the show of cooperation between Dagupan, province and Lingayen officials that if it were only possible he would have the PSC in Manila transported to Dagupan and Lingayen.
Harry found that local officials here are “game” when Jonas agreed to belt out two songs during the Dagupan Kalutan at the sport complex.
* * * *
Lingayen’s campaign for cityhood is almost a done deal were it not for a new DILG policy that discourages it. Minus the selected ugly facets in the town which were, Jonas decried, were highlighted in a recent Imbestigador expose, the town has reached its peak as an LGU. What Lingayenses should not forget is that it was during Castañeda’s mayorship when cityhood soared to the sky, a key indicator of growth.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
