Think about it
Gov. Espino guests at forum series
By Jun Velasco
“A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back in the crowd,” John Maxwell.
AT the launch of President Hotel’s Breakfast Club meeting, guest speaker Gov. Amado Espino Jr. was subdued when he spoke on the controversy involving four broadcasters who attacked him in the air.
The forum whose birth must have risen from the abject need to raise the level of debate among partisans in light of the coming elections was sober and attentive.
Most remembered by the panelists and the audience who were mostly members of media and civil society was the accolade expressed by publisher Mita Sison-Duque, owner of President Hotel, on Espino as “the brightest political star in Pangasinan today.”
Mita, by the way, is known internationally as an author of books, one of which is about FVR who was born in the exact spot where the hotel stands.
We have no idea if FVR is a stockholder of the hotel.
We understand former Congressman Mark Cojuanco is being eyed as the next speaker of the “roundtable” – the hotel’s version of kapihan.
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One of the Roundtable guests, Vice Mayor Nathaniel Pasilliao of Lingayen exuded a humble but brilliant persona. He is Governor Espino’s candidate for Lingayen mayor — which brings to three mayoral bets in the capital town, including re-electionist Josefina “Inday” Castañeda, and former PNP-Pangasinan Director Sonny Verzosa.
It’s an “exacting” 3-corner fight
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Mayor Belen Fernandez’s SOCA (State of the City Address) was excellent in content and delivered with gusto.
But there was one small spoiler – her dig on a fishing industry leader who in all honesty means well for her administration.
Surreal.
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The debates on proposed Bangsamoro Bill Law (BBL), which is being assiduously pursued by the Aquino administration and those who are fine-tuning it led by Senator Bongbong Marcos, are so heated it might not see the light of day under P-noy’s administration.
Davao-based Ben Diansay, publisher of Mindanao Gazette daily, says Bongbong has left an indelible imprint on Mindanaoans in the way he is handling the BBL debates befitting, Ben says, a “statesman.”
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Of the known presidential contenders, Sec. Mar Roxas is so far the most acceptable on the credentials of integrity. Mar, they say, is the fittest to use – or continues to use – Daang Matuwid as a political battlecry.
Next to him with a clean record is Davao Mayor Rody Duterte and, if allowed by jurisprudence, Grace Poe.
It seems Vice President Binay could hardly fit the norm.
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It was beloved erpat Pio Infante Velasco’s 31st death anniversary last August 13.
Was it not also on that fateful day that Gonzalo Duque’s famous father, former Gov. Paco Duque’s death anniversary?
Fathers, you see, are the skipper of families – but the moms are the comptrollers of what keeps our families in order as a whole and individually.
We remember with fondness the late Pio’s utter versatility to keep the family of 10 children intact even with a low budget. Nanay Coring was – and still is – the spiritual glue that has promoted family solidarity brimming with love.
Because of our parents’ boundless love and filial fidelity our family is a portrait of joy and bondless faith.
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Our friend from Bani, Pangasinan, Procopio de Vera, is a political science professor at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. One day last week, he asked his students to jot down the qualities of the next president they want. Here’s what he got:
- He will lead by example
It is important that he or she has an untarnished record both in his personal and professional life.
- He is a prime mover
He should be able to manage the country well, appointing the most competent and qualified people in his government to ensure that the best interests of the nation are served.
- He has high moral values.
He should be one who “walks the talk,” not one who says one thing but does another, trust being a critical element of productive leadership.
- He protects the Filipino’s rights and the national wealth
He should seek a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth of our country, and able to expand productivity as the key to raise the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged.
- He should be a developer of agricultural land that will provide sustainable food supply.
He should focus on increasing food production in a sustainable way that will enhance food security in our country.
- He is a visionary and innovative
He should have a vision for the country and able to motivate and inspire Filipinos to help him attain such vision, showing an interest in the personal development of the Filipinos.
- He enhances the Filipino’s pride and love of country
He should most of all exemplify his pride of being a Filipino and display his great love of our country. Love of country is not just a feeling but a sense of patriotism, an unyielding desire for our country to become a great nation.
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NOTES: Former Board Member and Manaoag Vice Mayor Ramon Bautista says “there should be more kapihan” in the mold of the recent President Hotel’s Breakfast Club roundtable” that enlightens and entertains the public …”Black propaganda will always backfire,” he said.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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