Playing with Fire
City Auditor preparing red-hot report
By Gonzalo Duque
OUR media colleagues will find this interesting.
Our tycoon friend Tony Cabangon Chua was overheard in a conversation with Bolinao Mayor Noli Celeste recently.
The tycoon who was “had” in his recent misadventure in buying the MCAdore building recently went to Bolinao, now the hottest tourism-rich town, to do some hotel business prospecting, we were told.
When he observed some curious people hanging around, Tony asked Mayor Noli Celeste if there was or were media people around.
Why? Asked Mayor Noli.
“Because I was recently victimized by a group of media people in Dagupan, ginawa akong pala-bigasan!” (Words to this effect).
Noli countered: “Baka nilalambing lang kayo?”
The aging tycoon did not reply, but was shaking his head.
You can be sure those media people, who our friend Sec. Bebot Villar would playfully refer to as “medyas,” are not in our legit group.
* * * *
In his recent column, Manila Standard columnist Emil Jurado (bakit kaya nagka-interest na masyado sa Dagupan MCAdore?) wrote about former Mayor Benjie Lim in a “comatose” state.
This validates what our Publisher Ermin has written a long time ago.
Some City Hall overstaying foggies want to exploit the yarn that their boss is very much alive and kicking in order to hide their crimes. But for how long can truth be hidden? If you ask us, we’d suggest to cumadre Celia and Vice Mayor Brian Lim to tell the unvarnished truth about Benjie’s health update. They would be appreciated and loved even more that way.
* * * *
We had a long talk with City Auditor Virgilio Quinto who said he was preparing an airtight report on the financial ruin that bedevils Dagupan.
He was all smiles when he came across such words as “value engineering” in reference to the failed Daongan and River Cruise projects. Value engineering is sometimes defined as values going to private pockets, ugh!!!
Quinto hinted heads will roll “para hindi pamarisan.”
* * * *
We are happy to report to our Kabaleyan Channel Serbisyo Publiko listening/viewing public that we have hit upon the genuine core of public service-media dynamics in the daily dialogue we hold on the air.
We found out that our daily link-up with different and various groups have become effective powerful conduits to the public.
No, we do not belong to Mayor Belen Fernandez PR team. Our “partnership” was incidental as we were a part of her election campaign team. After that, we are back to independent journalism.
Remember we differ in our approach to the illegal fish pens issue? She was considering a two-month grace period. Our stand was—and still—prosecute the illegal now because they are illegal.
Magkaiba kami, di ba? But we remain genuine, true friends. Both of us respect press freedom.
* * * *
Back to our broadcast work at Kabaleyan channel.
The presence and readiness of leaders of groups and organizations to talk about their work in our community is a healthy sign of a vibrant democracy.
Groups like the Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Jaycees PANDA, Medical Society, Senior citizens, Church, students and teachers discuss their jobs at Kabaleyan with gusto.
Anti drugs, cleanliness, education, name it, we discuss it.
You will notice that our talk sessions are off-the-cuff and no-holds-barred. Of course, but we know our limits. We don’t slide down to personalities or character assassination.
In our dialogue with the city workers, and those in charge with protecting our homes from fire, we discovered that our fire fighters are ill-equipped. But thank God, we have a PANDA which supplies the missing equipment and facilities, praise them.
PANDA has two tankers and 4 fire trucks.
Gumagaan ang trabajo ng ating fire department! Btw, nakakatawa at nakakalungkot. Ang inaatupag ng ating fire flights (some of them) are selling fire extinguishers!
Ay, madi!
* * * *
Sad news: Former Con-Con Delegate Louie Catubig, kuya of our former LNU executive Rex Catubig, died of a lingering illness at age 74. He was then as very popular councilor of Dagupan City in the early 60’s.
This paper’s editorial consultant Gerry Garcia, uncle of our publisher-editor Ermin and younger brod of the paper’s founder Ermin Sr., died last Wednesday. He was a scholarly and humble editor but perceptive editorial-writer, a well-known Garcia character.
May our friends rest in peace!
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