Playing with Fire
SM, Robinson have arrived in Metro Dagupan!
By Gonzalo Duque
CONGRATS, Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan!
Our friend since way back, Ms. Lily Yuchongtian, beauteous wife of former Rotary Gov. Nelson Yuchongtian, takes over the presidency of the Rotary Club of Uptown Dagupan from outgoing president, Councilor Dada Reyna in these interesting times.
The last time we hobnobbed with our fellow Rotarians, we felt their deep emotions. Singa masiblet na awards yay outgoing Governor Oyen Villanueva amo, awa, best friend, Ashok?
But in our book, mga heroes and heroines pa rin ang mga kasamahan natin. We know. We’ve seen how they gave the name of Rotary something to be proud of in these parts. Why not? We have been with them on the forefront of Rotary action.
Kaya, ikaw Lily, try to view these recognition awards as simply one of those palamuti ng buhay. Pero ang tunay ay yong na recognition ay yong nasa kalooban natin. If the awards are well deserved, good, but if not, itapon! Be guided by that axiom about winning, “it’s not whether you win or lose, but on how you played the game, because the Great Scorer knows the score.”
But if you ask us, the best pa rin kami. Congrats to all of you.
* * *
Last Wednesday, two significant events were taking place at the Dagupan City Hall.
The SM Group headed by Hanz Sy, son of the legendary Henry Sy, accompanied by our tycoon brother, Cesar, and yours truly called on Mayor Benjie Lim. Well, what’s the meaning of this? If you’re asking us, that’s a business earthquake!
At around this time, representatives of Mr. John Gokongwei’s Robinson have just put the final act on their mall and housing project in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
So after all, these big signs of progress are about to become real, right before our very eyes, in mall country, Dagupan. Let’s doff our hats to Mayor Benjie Lim for adopting a positive view of these developments, even if these are his rival groups. We understand, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez who, like Benjie, is in the same business is expected to welcome these developments, too.
Nauna na sila Benjie and Belen sa mall arena, so we don’t think ipagkakait nila sa mga locals ang pagdating ng mga giants.. These things could only mean growth and success, and all of us should be happy about them.
After meeting with the SM group, Mayor Benjie also met with and inducted the charter officers of the city’s fishpond owners and operators at the conference room of the city hall. The group was headed by Alfredo Dawana of Barangays Tapuac and Lucao.
In their speeches, Mayor Lim, President Dawana and Bonuan Gueset Captain Angel Gumarang (association adviser) underscored the vital role of fishpond owners in strengthening the fishing industry in the city. It may be instructive to remind everyone that fishing is undoubtedly the most vital industry in Dagupan. Sadly, it is not fully developed for many reasons.
Kitang kita ang total support ni Mayor sa fishing, hind lang, bangus, industry. Dapat lang! We love to call our city bangus center of the world. E, ano ba iton balita na, the city can not even supply the bangus needs of the city. Ano ba yan!
And so we pose this challenge to Apring Dawana’s group, try to make a difference in the city’s sagging bangus, nay, fishing industry! Good luck to all of you!
* * *
In a recent meeting of the Regional Development Council, we saw the magnificent NLEX plan that would open a new highway in the north up to the Ilocoslovakia. This is good for Pangasinenses especially those residing in the East and Central sections. The ongoing construction towards Rosario, La Union will pass through San Jacinto and San Fabian, a hairline away from Dagupan. The project was started by PGMA and is going under PNoy. Let’s welcome this landmark infra project, folks!
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