UNLI ACCESS FOR JUETENG. A patient in one government hospital described to me how jueteng bet collectors are able to operate “here, there, and everywhere.”

Then he pointed them out to them, some even inside his hospital room that he shared with other sick patients in that hospital in central Pangasinan.

I told the patient that the executives in our beloved province have been swearing to high heavens there is no jueteng in Pangasinan. “It’s jai-alai, not jueteng,” they swore.

“Hindi po, jueteng talaga,” the patient said.

Then I remember when newsmen trooped to that hospital during a food poisoning incident. We were told to get out so as not to disturb the patients. We obliged.

I wonder, “Kung jueteng collector, pwede maski sa loob ng kwarto ng pasyente to disturb the patients?”—Tita Roces

 

AWAKE FINALLY. With only just 500 trees (from the original 1,700) left standing along the Manila North Road and most of these trees were deeply girdled, it seems the environmentalists are waging an uphill battle to protect the 50 to 100 year-old trees in Pangasinan. The contractor of the highway widening is hell bent in doing everything within its command to have the project done.      .

I have seen the live trees being cut. Once toppled, the cement mixer of the contractor quickly takes over and pours mixed sand and gravel plus cement in the spaces created, with no care about the ban on cutting of live  trees.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. agreed that the picture of the stump of a tree that I took with my cellphone was live and not a dead tree and led him to believe that the contractor and the DENR that gave the permit are answerable and accountable. 

Given such a ploy, I strongly doubt if there will still be any tree left along the highway (from Binalonan to Pozorrubio ) before the year ends. The DPWH and the contractor must be stopped and hailed to court.

It is inspiring to note that even non-Pangasinenses like Fr. Robert Reyes, the running priest, found time coming to fight for the remaining trees. He rallied Pangasinan residents to unite and adopt the trees in front of their houses and ensure that their trees are protected from harm.

Finally, the Pangasineses have awaken and are ready to protect the trees.

Fr. Reyes cursed the people involved in the cutting down of the trees along MNR: “You’ll also die soon, earlier than most of us because Mother Nature is looking at you always”? I overheard him mention the name of a politician as among the villains in the war over the standing trees. – Leonardo Micua

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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