‘Your will be done’

By Al S. Mendoza

TODAY is the day before Christmas, Christmas being the most revered day in all of Christendom.  This is the day 2,000 years or so ago when Mary would start feeling the final rumblings of the coming of her son, Lord Jesus Christ.

Listen to The Word (Zec, 2, 14-17 / or Rev 11, 19; 12, 1-6, 10 / Lk 1, 26-38 or Lk 1, 39-47).

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. ‘ But Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?’ And the angel said to her in reply, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
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Serenity and the comfort of living beside a river

By Eva C. Visperas

The soft movement of water in a river reminds us of the serenity of life. It comforts the restless soul after a long, busy and tiring day.

The moonlight that touches one’s abode when darkness sets in as one sits at the clubhouse just to unwind for an hour or two is a refreshing moment. Knowing that your family is secure at home when you end your day as you eagerly go home to be with them is a priceless experience.

I personally visited San Marino Place, the latest talk-of-the city subdivision located in Bonuan Catacdang just about two kilometers away from the business center of  Dagupan City. (I also got an invitation from MANAGEN Development Corporation for the blessing and inauguration of   San Marino Place’s clubhouse and swimming pool, although I didn’t know anyone behind it personally).

I pass that area whenever I visit the seminary weekly but the first time I entered the place gave me a wonderful experience. The view is relaxing as one watch the water along the river move swiftly. The spacious 10- hectare location is an ideal place to build a house away from the hustle and bustle of city life yet the location is just a few minutes drive from downtown. And with the Pantal-Lucao diversion road nearing completion, this is an added bonus.
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3-wheel tractor for lowland and upland cultivation

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

A three-wheel tractor that can be used both for lowland and upland cultivation with the operator riding on it is now being developed by PhilRice (Philippine Rice Research Institute) agricultural engineers.

Led by Arnold S. Juliano, the agricultural engineers used the common power tiller and surplus small 4-wheel tractor as their bases in the development of the 3-wheel tractor.  For one thing, the surplus 4-wheel tractor has been proven effective in dry land cultivation, but it is still supported by the power tiller for harrowing and leveling operations.  On the other hand, the power tiller is used only for lowland cultivation.

The 3-wheel tractor, with the operator riding on it, performs plowing, harrowing and leveling in lowland and upland fields.  Its design was made simpler than the 4-wheel tractor, Juliano said.
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To be a cyclist is always risky

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I’VE  KNOWN many cyclists  who met freak accidents during their training along the highways and eventually succumbed. The latest victim was Raffy Peralta, a promising rider from Alcala town, who died last December 10 after he was run over by a speeding van along the national highway at barangay zone 7 Bayambang town. Despite his wearing a ‘crash helmet’, the poor guy was killed instantly due to a severe skull injury and multiple wounds in his body.

Feeling like a father to many young cyclists in this province, I visited his remains at barangay Atainan, Alcala, with my only cycling son Jazy and his Pitaki Boyz cyclists to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his parents who survived him, Leonardo Peralta and the former Concepcion Muñoz, with some financial help including a contribution from San Carlean rider now Houston-based philanthropist Blandino Caguioa. Caguioa called me from overseas to say more help would be coming from him and from his co-cyclists in Houston. Caguioa mentioned his grandmother is a Peralta so Raffy could be his relative.
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The Heart Speaks

By Emmanuelle

Weird, but this story is oft-repeated, so many times occurring. A constant replay. There is such a one in your neighborhood. There is such a one in your family.

The population in their Barangay was not so big; thus almost everybody knew each other. So all of them knew that if ever there was any girl who fitted to a perfect T the image of a future ideal wife for a son or a brother, she would be May - pretty, polite, industrious, obedient to her parents, devoutly religious. She was so masimpit, but she always had a shy, sincere smile for everyone.  Bachelors of marrying age there and from the surrounding districts trip each other’s feet as they troop to her doorsteps.          

Josh had watched May grow up from a frail little girl to a beautiful young lady. He was older by more than a few years, but age difference matters not when one’s heart had spoken. For his heart had spoken, and it spelled out May’s name. She was his first, his one and only love.
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HOUSING FUND - Gov Victor Agbayani receives from Engr. Imelda Mabutas, OIC chief of Housing Loan Division of Pag-IBIG Fund Regional Office, a check amounting to P3.5 million from Pag-IBIG Fund for the development of the 257-unit Villa Maniboc Socialized Housing Project in barangay Maniboc, Lingayen. Also in photo are Eugene Laroya, HRMA II of Pag-IBIG and Engr. Alvin Bigay, provincial housing and homesite regulation officer.—(PIO)

MALASIQUI — The Japanese company Wu Kong Singapore Private Ltd. extended its job fair last Tuesday here, its fourth in the province this year.

The job fairs were held earlier in Bayambang, San Carlos City, Calasiao-Sta. Barbara area where more than 150 were recruited for immediate employment.

Wu Kong is a leading manufacturing firm based at the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) industrial center in Cavite. It pre-fabricates structural parts of Japanese houses for export to Japan.

Retired police General Reynaldo Velasco initiated the new job fair in collaboration with the office of Malasiqui Mayor Alfonso Soriano.

Wu Kong expressed hope that it could recruit most of the 600 skilled workers that it needs from Pangasinan.
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AN Urban Vegetable Production seminar was held at barangay Herrero-Perez last week as part of the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and zero-waste programs of the city government.

The city government is encouraging the establishment of nursery gardens in the barangays where the composted materials can be used.

“This program is part of our undertaking to lessen the volume of wastes being thrown in the dumpsite,” Mayor Benjamin Lim said in his message.

Lim encouraged vegetable production in the backyards and under-scored the significance of planting vegetable assortments at the house gardens, because it not only contributes to a greener environment, but a source of income for families.
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DAGUPAN CITY –The second highest official of the Philamlife of the Philippines personally awarded Saturday November 11, 2006 at the Star Plaza Hotel the (3) three Giant Presidential Cups with (3) three Plaques of Recognition to the (3) three champions on sales in Agency level, Direct Unit level and Associate Unit level to the Pangasinan De-Guzman Agency, besting other Phil-Am Life Agencies nationwide.

Philamlife top executives who attended the Victory Party and Fellowship with a theme: “Sulong Pa” included. Ariel G. Cantos - SVP  & Chief Agency Officer;  Rolando M. Cabral - VP  & Director of Agencies;  Blessie A. Visaya- AVP and Superintendent North Luzon, hosted by Engr. Mario A. de Guzman - Agency Manager;  Anicia Q. de Guzman-Unit Manager; Ricardo G. Angel - AUM; Gliceria S. Cervantes - AUM;  Ramon T. Bautista - AUM and Jeff Mark S. Po- AUM.
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SAN CARLOS CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Regional Office No. 1 and the Association of Registrars of Educational Institutions-Region I (AREI-I) cited two officials of the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF) here as Outstanding Registrar and Liaison Officer in Region I.

CHEd Region I Director Evelyn Pascua, thru Leoncia Dauag, CHEd Education Supervisor identified the VMUF officials as Brigida Dizon and Marcela Poquiz. one of the Outstanding Registrars and Outstanding Liaison Officer in Region I, respectively, during the Association of Registrars in the Cordilleras (ARC) - AREI-I Joint Regional Assembly held at the Consuelo Hotel Resort and Chinese Restaurant in Lingayen last December 14.
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