Think about it
Buoyant mood
By Jun Velasco
WE’RE in a buoyant mood somewhat because of the many new faces of triumph in the world these days.
Our pugilist icon and congressman Manny Pacquiao just dealt the US government a “first round knockout,” and please don’t be surprised if he begins eying the presidency of the Philippines — or the United Nations!
Don’t compare him with President Noynoy because he is a world champion; Noynoy is not.
The whole world is also singing paeans to the once politically oppressed Egyptians (buti sa kanila for their pharaos’ oppressing the Hebrews for centuries!) for ousting dictator Mubarak’s many years of misrule.
President Obama, meanwhile, has kissed and made up with Republican foe, John McCain, thanks to the latter’s praise release in the Washington Post for Obama. (Btw, why can’t Dagupan Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez do the same for Mayor Benjie Lim? Ang liit ng ating ciudad compared to the US!)
We all need these signs of hope in a sagging planet amidst the horrific and unceasing global warming blows.
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In Pangasinan, there’s an admirable shift of attention to our past.
After Gov. Amado Espino cited the heroic effort of our columnist Gonzalo Duque for “unearthing” our provincial past, Capitol workers held a series of cultural activities designed to nurture Pangasinenses’ appreciate and love the past.
Spines and our beauteous cumadre, Prescilla, led provincial employees last week in “Asin ed Pangasinan,” a theatrical show organized by the “Danggoan na Pangasinan” directed by our friend, Raul “Insyong” Tamayo.
Not to be left behind, the city of Dagupan is redesigning its official logo in keeping with the times. Mayor Lim has assigned the job to a special committee headed by “the genius of Pogo” George Estrada.
Did you know that two historic events could place the province on the national map? These are one, the month-long stint of Bayambang as capital of the Philippine Republic under General Aguinaldo in 1999, and the establishment of Binalatongan as the Pangasinan capital 200 years before the advent of the Philippine revolution of 1896. In this sense, the province led by rebels Andres Malong and Juan dela Cruz Palaris were way ahead of Rizal and Bonifacio in the struggle against Spain.
Mabuhay ang Asinan country!
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We have many Filipino-Americans in our midst. Our friend, the former Helmy Edralin and wife of our old pal Leo Palaganas, has just been released from the Villaflor Hospital due to a sea urchin injury she sustained at the Hundred Islands. Mayor Nani Braganza, please clamp down on these killjoys, as they’re hurting your tourism program.
Yesterday, Alfred Dawana hosted some 100 balikbayans at his resort in Sitio Tocok in Lucao, Dagupan City. An advance party told us hundreds more of our US-based kababayan want to come home because they’ve heard a lot about our local governors’ great performances… minus the political squabbles, please, says Fred Fernandez and Jimmy Munoz.
Incidentally, we felicitate the lovey-dovey balikbayan couple, Romy and Macy Claveria Tamondong, who just retired from their government jobs in Chicago. Both natives of Malued, the couple of class ’54 of the Dagupan City National High School just like Dr. Acela and the late Vic Tuazon, Manding Fernandez and the still alive Norie Liwag, are building a ‘modest apartment business’ in Malued.
Kuya Romy and Atchi Macy left Dagupan in 1972 (that year!) leaving behind their six children in the care of Macy’s parents, Irineo and Teodora. Macy, favorite aunt of Chris Claveria, is a certified public accountant. Macy is a top official of the Chicago federal state government. They are enplaning back to Obama country on February 26. Kuya Romy jogs daily at the city plaza and says he enjoys our mangoes, patupat, puto.
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Quote of the week: “Love suffereth long, and is kind, does not behave unseemly, seeketh not her own, beareth all things, endureth all things.” 1 Corinthians 13.
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