Is the government helpless or
is it behind the assassination of journalists and activists?
Last week, the oft-garrulous and off-target Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzalez did it again.
In response to the human rights commission’s and organizations of journalists’ charge that the Arroyo government is not doing enough to stop the killing of journalists, Secretary Gonzalez recommended that journalists be armed to protect themselves.
As usual he didn’t get it or was he baiting the media practitioners to a corner that the latter cannot contest in the future?
On its face value, the Justice Secretary’s statement is ominous. By his glib reaction, all journalists and media practitioners should be warned that the national government is maintaining it’s “Open Season” policy towards the elimination of legitimate dissent expressed in the media. And the intent clearly is not limited only to removing the avenues for the messages critical of the Arroyo government, but to eliminate those who dare deliver the messages as well. Read more
Filed under News, Editorial, Editorial Cartoon by Sunday Punch.
CHR’s Wilhelm doing the province proud
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
As charges of brazen violation of human rights fly all across the nation, there is one unsung courageous man from Pangasinan doing a yeoman’s job upholding, protecting and defending human rights in the country.
Human Rights Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano of San Carlos City is doing the province proud.
At a time when most government appointees are already expected to simply parrot and defend a government position regardless of moral implications, Wilhelm is surely showing the way to an independence of mind for the common good.
Not a few thought Wilhelm will simply coast along, take safe positions vis-à-vis reported human rights violations just mouthing motherhood responses while waiting for another more important appointment.
But he did no such thing.
Wilhelm did not shirk from his responsibility taking all suspected violators of human rights, mainly the police and the military, to task whenever it was called for.
Wilhelm gives us hope in the eye of a storm of wanton killings of militant leaders and journalists today.
This corner salutes Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano. Read more
Filed under Opinion, Punchline by Sunday Punch.
City’s unruly traffic
By Gerry Garcia
EXPANSION of the city proper area, once promised by the city administration to help ease traffic congestion, has been unduly delayed to the consternation of commuters and motorists flocking in daily, especially from outside the city. Congestion on the city’s streets certainly has not eased a bit owing to the presence of 3 big universities and 3 major shopping malls. . . . all hogging the city’s most traffic-prone areas.
Original plans, if we remember right, included the construction of two new bridges across the long winding Pantal River, one of which would link Bacayao Norte to Rivera street (?) and the other to connect Bacayao Sur to Zamora. These were all projects needing prior implementation by the LGU which originally hatched the idea. Read more
Filed under Opinion, Here and There by Sunday Punch.
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(This space will be reserved for literary contributions from readers. The PUNCH encourages readers to write and email to us their thoughts about their impressions and ideas about life in and outside of Pangasinan, whether social or economic or cultural. No politics, please. Thank you. - Publisher).
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Pangasinan – a dying language?
By Erwin S. Fernandez
I beg to disagree with F. Sionil Jose, the National Artist for Literature who hails from Rosales, a town away from my birthplace, Urdaneta. Pangasinan, he foretells, like the rest of Philippine languages except Tagalog, Iloko and Cebuano, shall die in the near future because it is now on the verge of disuse and eventually extinction. He raises a valid point, however, that Pangasinan speakers must now address.
Unlike the three cited languages, Pangasinan don’t have Liwayway, Bisaya and Bannawag, popular vernacular magazines where one ordinarily finds short stories, essays, poems and other occasional pieces. Thus, there is no proper venue for would-be writers and authors. Or if there had been one, will there be a critical audience or more importantly, will there be writers for readers?
At present, less than one and a half million people speak the language. So who says there is no market for writers? What is lacking is a grouping like the GUMIL (Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilocano) that will unite writers who, I’m confident, are more than willing to cooperate for the sake of preserving the language. I am pretty sure they are still around in the villages or in towns or cities with dormant energies waiting to be reawakened. Read more
Filed under Opinion, A Kabaleyan's Thoughts by Sunday Punch.
Move over, Ryan Cayabyab
By Jun Velasco
WILLIAM Bigornia, only in his 40’s, is the manager of Manila Bank in Urdaneta City. He is a musician, composer, singer and arranger par excellence!
His musical genius surfaced lately, “maybe I’m a late-bloomer sort of,” he told us excited about his recent self-discovery.
The bank executive is a weekend resident of Quezon City by virtue of his Manila Bank work which started at the Dagupan City branch.
The Bangus City slot was later taken over by Carmelo “Joy” Inamac, an Aklanon whose excellent public relations catapulted him too soon to the presidency of the Rotary Club of Metro Dagupan lately.
William is a nephew of the two icons in Philippine journalism - the late columnist Jesus Bigornia of the Manila Bulletin, a namesake of his father, and former Press Secretary Amante Bigornia of Manila Standard Today. Read more
Filed under Opinion, Think about It by Sunday Punch.
Save our unsung heroes!
By Gonzalo Duque
PRESIDENT Gloria’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia has definitely gained several plus points for her and the administration.
I could see some anti Gloria elements sulking.
Your know what? I advise the opposition to just think positive, first be good to their families and constituencies rather than shooting down a natural leader as Ate Glo.
But it’s not all rosy out there in the Saudi visit however.
Because it has exposed once again the sad plight of our unsung heroes in the Middle East and in similar areas around the world. These dollar earners are exposed to several risks and problems, that is why many of them are jailed for offenses they never intended to do. Read more
Filed under Opinion, Playing with Fire by Sunday Punch.
Minding Mayo
By Al S. Mendoza
HAVE Y0U heard of the Kawasaki Disease?
I bet you 19 of the first 20 readers of this piece haven’t.
No, the disease is not caused by the Kawasaki motorcycle. Nor is the first victim of the disease surnamed Kawasaki.
Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki from Japan discovered the disease in the 60’s and for which the cause of the illness, which begins with high fever for at least 5 days, remains unknown to this day.
Kawasaki Disease is a children’s illness that, if untreated immediately, might cause a heart attack or aneurysm. It is also known as the Kawasaki Syndrome or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, which can damage coronary arteries or the heart muscle itself.
About 80 percent of those reported afflicted with the disease are under age 5 and are mostly Asians.
Children over age 8 are rarely affected. It is this fact that broke my heart the past week. Read more
Filed under Opinion, General Admission by Sunday Punch.
Finally, the Aquarium Resto is open
 By Eva C. Visperas
This building became the center of discussion among radio commentators in Pangasinan.
The Aquarium Resto built inside the sprawling 24-hectare Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City was built with the noblest intention of providing a very decent yet affordable restaurant that serves fish and other sea products, a diner can choose from a nearby Buhay Isdaan (Live Fish Market).
Its marketing concept is “ituro mo, iluto ko” (Take your pick, I will cook it).
Inside the BFAR center, you will see several research centers where researchers, students, those in the aquaculture sector, ordinary folks from Pangasinan and other local and foreign places, go and observe different species and technology. From the bangus hatchery, tilapia center, white shrimp culture, freshwater prawns production center, among others these often awe and inspire their visitors to go into aquaculture. Read more
Filed under Business, Opinion, Business Log by Sunday Punch.
Cattle fattening pushed in Mangaldan
 By Sosimo Ma. Pablico
The prospects of cattle fattening in Mangaldan, Pangasinan are bright because of the abundance of feed materials and technical support from the Department of Agriculture [DA] in the Ilocos. Thus, the local government unit of Mangaldan and the Dagupan branch of the LBC Bank are encouraging farmers to go into it.
The LBC Bank recently approved Mangaldan as a pilot site for a cattle fattening project, noting that the farmers have already started to practice feedlot fattening and, hence, the chances for the project to succeed are great.
As early as October last year, agriculture committee chair Councilor Jesus de Guzman led Mangaldan farmer-leaders in negotiating with LBC Bank Dagupan branch manager Shirley Marie A. Ortega for production loans. De Guzman and his brother, Melchor, who is the barangay captain of Buenlag, have volunteered as co-makers. Read more
Filed under Opinion, Harvest Time by Sunday Punch.
Enchanted Kingdom
 By +Oscar V. Cruz
More fiction oriented than Dan Brown, more nebulous than any dreamland, more elusive than the thinnest air in Mt. Everest. This is the “Enchanted Kingdom” that is perceived to be occupied not by real people but by illusive dwarfs. It is a non-place where not only non-realities reign but also non-ordinary beings exist.
More. The kingdom could come about but after 20 years today is bad enough. If the present is the foretelling of the future, the country in one big trouble 20 years after. More. Would someone now around be the one still to build the “Enchanted Kingdom” no less than 20 long years from 2006? This is too big a presumption to take seriously”.
There are people regularly killed as a matter of course. There are angry protests and rallies staged here and there. There are issues of disconcerting deception and shameless corruption being raised by people before all available fora. There are even sudden disappearances of individuals with no traces, with no one held accountable so far. Read more
Filed under Opinion, Viewpoints by Sunday Punch.
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