Think about it
Gems in Pangasinan to be honored
By Jun Velasco
WE don’t want to be parochial, but we couldn’t help feeling proud of the province’s stellar performance as main producer of the Filipinos’ staple food – rice.
Thanks to Brod Butch and pretty wife Ana who invited us to watch the Awarding Rites at the Resorts World Hotel – beside Marriot Hotel where we and Orly Guirao interviewed P-Noy before the 2010 polls.
Our Governor Amado “Spines” Espino Jr., one of the country’s Top Ten recipients of the Rice Achievers Award was casually a towering figure in spite of his five plus something feet.
We almost missed our appointment with a Pangasinan pride, Philippine Journalism’s woman star, Ana Marie Pamintuan, editor in chief of Philippine Star.
It took place shortly before 5 in the afternoon, right at the Star’s editorial room. Ms. Pamintuan and us were reporters of the Philippine Tribune, not the Daily Tribune of Ninez Oliveros, in the mid-80’s, and by the looks of it she has evolved into a well-rounded top editor of the prestigious daily.
Until we read her accounts – grilled bangus, and allied subjects – especially during the warmest but frolicsome summer in Pangasinan, we had no inkling of her Pangasinan roots. We had to text / call cumpadre Al Mendoza and bayaw Jarius Bondoc to confirm that Amy’s mother is Al Mendoza’s townmate in Mangatarem. We told her it was former Speaker JDV who had spilled the beans on her Mangatarem roots.
We thanks PS’s op-ed editor Ramon Lim’s wife, P.S. Senior Account Manager, Eliz Lim, who was a perfect host throughout our visit. Some star “connects” have gone to the Great Beyond, Bobby dela Cruz, Alex Fernando and Tony Pano. Our durable National Press Club fellow officers Roman Floresca, Al Pedroche and bossing Dick Pascual are still extremely active.
It was a pleasant breeze in that aircon P.S. editorial room.
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For sometime now, we have missed our chats with two of the country’s most outstanding braintrusts, former chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and our Manila Bulletin’s publisher-president Hermie Pobre.
Thursday evening, the dinner at Manong Hermie’s home on Mahinhin St. at Teachers’ Village was, as usual, spiced with reminiscences. Being his regular visitor, we considered only brod Butch and sis-in-law Ana as her impromptu guests. He cautioned against an hour-before dinner date as unadvisable, so he said he’d tender an A-1 dinner date at the Manila Hotel which he presides as vice president.
Here’s former PRC Commissioner Avelina dela Rea, Ph. D., UE dean, graduate school, on Mr. Pobre: “…. He was the respected presence who instilled discipline quietly, making the rounds and the surpassing them by his appearance at the door with nary an audible footstep.”
His late wife, the former Josefina Ferrer of Binmaley, Pangasinan had a Velasco bloodline, hence, we often address each other at times as primo.”
It’s a rare and distinct privilege to have been associated with him.
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The torrid month of March shook our country’s foundations many times in the past.
It was on March 16, 1521 when Spanish Conquistador Ferdinand Magellan discovered our fabled isles in the island of Mactan.
On March 22, 1897, Emilio Aguinaldo wrested the leadership of the revolution then ruled by the Katipunan in an election in Tejeros, Cavite. Aguinaldo was in battle when the election was presided by Bonifacio. Bonifacio who smelled something fishy disowned the proceedings, which led to his death in the hands of Aguinaldo’s boys.
Queer, isn’t it. Some historians attribute our failure to unite and prosper as a nation to this ugly kind of power grab.
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We were still in Manila when we heard that Mayor Belen Fernandez led an ocular inspection of Dagupan’s rivers Friday morning.
Apring Dawana, we were told, was not in the inspection group. We strongly suggest a neutral group will lead such look-see into our rivers to ensure an objective probe.
Some people warn we might have a fish kill when the rains come, due to massive siltation.
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P.S. Congrats to Kgwd. Suzette Pal of Barangay Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City for showing the real meaning of community service. She, too, quotes Jesus Christ’s “the greatest leader is the greatest servant of all.”
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