Think about it
Sendong So, a hero of our times
By Jun Velasco
“If you’re not afraid to face the music, you may someday lead the band.” –E.C. McKenzie
WE don’t see a disinterested person with a stout heart for the small man every day.
More often, we see so-called leaders who style themselves as serving the public interest but privately serving their own interest. They’d say, “what will I get out of it?”
In the province, you must have met the guy you thought was merely playing kingmaker or trifling with our favorite past time, politics.
We all know him, of Chinese blood but very Filipino at heart, Rosendo “Sendong” So, who must now be in his late 40’s, he is the man behind the successful Abono Party List and agri-business in Eastern Pangasinan.
While we wrote this, Sendong was in the national headlines for urging the President to relieve Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon for incompetence or much deeper reasons.
Why? Per Sendong and the IMF’s findings, the Philippines is losing something like P800 billion due to unchecked smuggling of various goods.
He rattled off with unimpeachable figures and cold data in his characteristic cool interviews on TV and the broadcast media. He knows whereof he speaks, as he off-the-cuff put in detail the origin and entry points of smuggled goods around the country.
It was therefore a big surprise why President Aquino would get flabbergasted by his revelation that the Philippine is now “smuggling capital of Asia.” We thought the President should decorate the Pangasinense king maker for warning against unmitigated smuggling. Go back to the staggering figures; the country is losing P800 billion due to smuggling! Sendong wants that huge sum saved for the country—and the President should kiss him for his astute research and moral courage.
Sendong is merely following Daang Matuwid to the letter.
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Did you know that Pangasinan is back in the saddle as rice production leader?
Congratulate Gov. Spines for skippering the province to its latest Agri Pinoy Rice Achiever Award—Provincial Level.
Do the same to Mayors Nap Sales of Manaoag and Teddy Ramos of Sta. Maria who bagged the award in the municipality level.
While we are in breast-thumping mode, let’s take a look at the ongoing gigantic irrigation project in Eastern Pangasinan under the management of Engr. Rey C. Mencias.
The Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project (ARIIP) is almost completed and ready to be inaugurated by the President anytime.
Once operational, expect fantastic rice production in the province again. The no-nonsense executive is behind many successful irrigation projects all over the country.
Let’s hope that this agricultural feat won’t be bumped off by the ugly hand of politics—the real bane of progress.
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Outside of politics—you see politics everywhere with those vote-for-me posters—what’s eating many Pinoys these days is the threat of world war, no thanks to a spoiled brat, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
What’s easing tensions though is, aside from the diversionary election circus, the calming effect of put-down assessments by foreign affairs experts who liken the boy leader to Aesop Fables’ “the boy who cried wolf.”
But let’s not lose our guard.
The boy’s bellicosity could get out of hand and possibly spark a nuclear explosion. The Philippines is Korea’s next-door neighbor.
We thought President Obama would do a George W. Bush or Bill Clinton who clamped North Korea within the “axis of evil” circle.
But Pyonyang up to now treats the U.S. leaders as if they do not exist.
Let’s watch how President Obama reacts to a congressman’s advice for the U.S. to stop dealing with North Korea. “Crush North Korea,” Rep. Ed Royce, Congress foreign affairs chair, said. The point is if the constable of the world could do it to Iraq, Libya and Egypt, what can prevent it from doing it to North Korea?
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Backyard politics. The Comelec at press time was frantically pulling down improperly placed or oversized political posters in the province. Better late than never….We saw NPC’s Mayor Mark Macanlalay at an LP caucus with Bam Aquino recently….. At the rate Bam is moving, he might really end up among the top senatoriables!
Gonzalo is right. Bam has presidential qualities! Rod Bolario, top honcho of LRT Manila, noted the upsurge of LP mayoral bet Wilson de Vera in the Calasiao mayoral chart. Expected to top the Dagupan councilors race is a Fernandez. Guess who?……
Colleague and our man Friday at the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs in the 80’s Roland Hidalgo has left for God’s Country. We shall miss him…Ed Maramba and Alfred Dawana’s Fishpond Owners Operators Ass’n has earned public approbation for its consistent drive to clean Dagupan’s river systems. Keep up the good work.
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Dr. Bernard Jimenez and fellow Rizalista Manfred Olik are avid but surreal Punch readers. They are our kindred souls.
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