Remembering 2005

By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.

 

 

The year 2005 is a year that the province will long remember.
It will be remembered as the year when two Pangasinenses figured in the country’s worst and biggest election scandal, having been nd in a got caught in a web of cheating, lying and stealing in the 2004 elections. Who can forget President Arroyo’s “Hello Garci” and then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano’s “Hello Ma’am”?
2005 was the year Pangasinan boasted of having the most number of officials in the official family. There was Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, Trade Sec. Peter Favila and Chief PNP Arturo Lomibao.
Of course, the unflappable Speaker Jose de Venecia remained speaker after a feeble attempt by a pesky Congressman Pichay tried to rock the boat. It was he and another distinguished Pangasinense that saved the day for President Aroyo who was on the verge of being ousted.
Immigrations Chief Al Fernandez, former Dagupan mayor, was constantly on the hot seat because of Hello Garci and the unwarranted escape of druglords and kidnappers under his watch. Obviously, the syndicate inside that agency mistakenly thinks it can run around him forever.   
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But notably, it was in 2005 when jueteng was stopped in the province for the longest time.  And full credit goes to Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese’s indefatigable Archbishop Oscar Cruz. It was he who succeeded in finally making the country fully understand the serious implications of jueteng on only on the Pinoy’s political and social development but on his moral values.  
            Governance-wise, the provincial government fared pretty well notwithstanding the poor economy in the country. The cities of Alaminos, Urdaneta and San Carlos managed to make great strides in economic development, unfortunately, the same could not be said for Dagupan City.
            Corruption issues continued to hound the Lim administration, from the ill-planned and overpriced construction of the New Malimgas market (stallholders are beginning to abandon the new market) and the dredging machines to the foiled attempt at passing an ordinance on pay-parking that would give a contractor a bonanza and peanuts for the city government. 
And the promised sanitary landfill remained a promise.
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THEY WROTE 30.
Last year made us remember how fragile life can be.
The PUNCH lost columnist Nap Donato and correspondent Max Mendiguarin within 3 days of each other.  No one, certainly not I, would have thought that a small paper like ours could lose two of its regular contributors in a week’s time.
      
 Personally, it was also the year my sisters and I grieved the loss of our mother Paulita, last March 12.  Being the strong woman that she was, her life left an indelible mark in all of us. She taught us strong faith in the Lord, the values of humility, perseverance, honest hard work, and family ties.
      
  We will miss them.
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LANDFILL NOT FOR DISTRICT
Shortly before Christmas, I managed to get some answers from Speaker Jose De V about the possibility of establishing the sanitary landfill for the district.
           
Well, it appears he is not keen on pursuing the suggestion because he believes the other towns will resists it since the landfill will mainly benefit Dagupan City. All other towns are able to manage their garbage.
           
As far as JDV is concerned, he already delivered on his promised assistance to the city by helping soften the resistance in San Jacinto. He said he delivered the promised water system and the paved road to Brgy Awai, ergo; the rest is now up to Mayor Benjie Lim to convert all these gestures of goodwill to serve the city’s purpose.
           
So, forget about sanitary landfill for the district. Dagupan City is now on its own. Oh boy, is the city in big trouble.
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PRISAA IN PANGASINAN
           
The hosting of PRISAA this year presents another chance for the province and the city to showcase their very best to the country. More than just another sports meet, it is going to be a national media event that will draw national attention to anything and everything Pangasinan.
LNU president and Punch columnist Gonz Duque, as chair of the host organization, will have his hands full but I have no doubt he will deliver.
The Punch will definitely do its share. 
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A WISH FOR 2006
I wish good governance would be the new buzzword in all towns and cities so I’ll have better and happier things to write about and stop being angry.   
Happy New year to all!
 

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