Why are the Siapno cousins ominously silent?

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

In the spirit of the New Year, I’d like to begin with the good news first.

A conscience bloc has finally surfaced from within the Dagupan City Sanggunian. Manning the frontlines are Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, Majority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez, Councilors Farah Decano, Jose Netu Tamayo and Alex de Venecia.

I’m certain Dagupeños have long waited for this but still better late than never. I join our kabaleyans in praying that they will remain a source of inspiration for many in the years ahead.

I would encourage the councilors to do their own blogs, if they haven’t done so yet. This way, Dagupeños all over the world can keep track of their activities without having to wait for PUNCH news about them.

Vice Mayor Alvin has shown how governance can be improved through cyberspace, it should work for them as well.
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Sudden fires, blast mayhem greet the New Year

By Gerry Garcia

BARELY days before the count-down reaches the zero hour (12 on the dot between today and tomorrow) we’re getting hotter news about fires suddenly breaking out in rapid succession in various places in the country and the increase in firecracker-caused mayhem expected to break previous records.

The one common cause seen to be behind these sudden fires is the proliferation of pyrotechnical products put on sale even in the malls. Another addition to the already banned 5-star, super lolo and pla-pla, including watussi, is the “boga”, an improvised cannon made from PVC pipes fired by denatured alcohol’s said to be gobbling up sales despite its exorbitant cost and the fact that it’s been banned in many places already.
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A meaningful Rizal Day observance

By Jun Velasco

RIZAL Day yesterday did not just come to pass. Yes, unlike in many observances past when meaningless rhetoric filled the air ad nauseaum.

There was felt a kind of yearning for a liberator, a Philippine hero to appear on the scene, to come to the rescue of Beloved Motherland or, better yet, as spoken so ardently by former Supreme Court Chief Justice, now Knights of Rizal Supreme Commander, Hilario G. Davide Jr., to come forward, to seek the “appearance of new Rizals in our midst.”

He said: “let’s create new Rizals!” as he turns to the young - and even the old who are young at heart - urging a mushrooming of several, hundreds or thousands or millions of “points of light in their communities, herpes in their own right.”

Yesterday’s rites at the Luneta, in Quezon City and in Dagupan City, we could hear footsteps of young and old people who have had enough of our unworkable system and the ill-fit leaders arising from the ruins, yes, like the Phoenix offering their precious hours for country.
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Happy New Year!

By Al S. Mendoza

THE GOOD Book said:

“Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was 12 years old, they went up according to festival custom.

“After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

“Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.
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You know there’s election when…

By Eva C. Visperas

So, every aspirant in the coming May 2007 elections is now on his or her toes, trying, of course, to please almost everyone to gain those precious votes.

Well, that’s one good thing I like about elections. Interested candidates, even the notorious ones, suddenly become good to everyone.

They become extra sweet (hugging even the perspiring voters), extra generous (giving away gifts like t-shirts, calendars, groceries with cash), extra accommodating (opening their gates early morning until late evening with ready coffee and biscuits.

Some even take calls now on their cellphones when their units either used to be normally closed or an “alalay” would take the calls for them and give that standard reply -“Sorry po tulog pa si sir, puyat kasi kagabi.” Whew, sana di bangungutin si sir sa katutulog.

Some are now noticeably extra patient (even if some abusive people ask them for excessive contributions like shouldering their children’s wedding expenses, or asking the politician to spend for the repair of their house).
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DOSEPCO, a model in hybrid rice subsidy abolition

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

Even as the subsidy for hybrid rice production is now about to end, members of the Davao Oriental Seed Producers Cooperative [DOSEPCO] in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental remain as aggressive as before in producing the much needed seeds of the public hybrid Mestizo 1.

Unlike other growers who have greatly reduced their area for AxR production, DOSEPCO members are not stymied by the ultimate phase out of the subsidy in 2007 wet season as dictated by the Philippine Medium Term Development Plan.

The gradual phase out of the subsidy started in 2004 wet season when the government first reduced the P2,400 subsidy to P1,750 per bag. The producers’ cooperatives were required to sell their seeds to the farmers at P650 a bag [20 kg each] so that their income per bag was still P2,400.

The subsidy was reduced further to P1,100 a bag in 2005-2006 dry season [November to April], and further trimmed to P1,000 in 2006 wet season. However, producers were given the option to increase their selling price to farmers.
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Don’t promise me a Rose Garden

By Emmanuelle

Just offer me a rose.

Don’t promise me a crown and a kingdom. Just a headband and a bahay kubo or a rented apartment or a little house painstakingly built through Pag-ibig funds, with big, big windows and a wonderful view of heaven on earth.

Don’t promise me a lifetime of “you’ll never have to worry about anything anymore, my dear”. Just try your best not to be my main worry, and to be with me when I need you, your strength and your arms to keep me up-and-steady when the storms come.

Don’t promise me the world, the sun, the moon and the universe. The world needs a passport and a visa; the sun will toast us to a crisp; the moon shines on reflected refracted glory; the universe is Superman’s.

Just offer me yourself.
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Regon I Medical Center in Dagupan City is now on white alert to receive and treat victims of firecracker explosions.

Dr. Jesus Canto, R1MC chief, said he placed on white alert to ensure that trained personnel are on duty, sufficient stocks of medicines, particularly anti-tetanus vaccines, are available, to effectively respond to emergency situations expected for the duration of the New Year celebration.

However, Canto is confident that the number of victims this year will be less given the “Oplan: Iwas Paputok” campaign in the media.

The anti-tetanus vaccines will be given free to victims of firecracker blasts, courtesy of the Department of Health, which is implementing an advocacy campaign known as “Oplan: Iwas Paputok”.

As of Friday, R1MC already admitted eight victims of firecracker explosions from different towns of Pangasinan, including a 4-year old boy who suffered burns in his two hands after he picked up a lighted firecracker at the city plaza at noon of December 24 who was rushed to Cuison Clinic.
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Former President Fidel Ramos has urged his kabaleyans to measure up to the fierce nationalism, daring and self-sacrifice demonstrated by the Pangasinan folk hero Juan de la Cruz Palaris by helping reduce poverty in the country.

Speaking at the grand  fellowship and recognition of the Kaluyagan Nen Palaris (KNP) at the Manila Hotel last December 21, Ramos urged Pangasinenses to do  their best to help uplift the life of the common people and contribute to nation-building and to the growth of their province.

“It is our job now to pass the torch to the younger generation of Pangasinan leaders. It is my fervent hope that this organization, (KNP) will serve as a major catalyst in recognizing, uniting, and harnessing the individual and collective strength of the best and the brightest among Pangasinenses to help build a stronger nation and ensure a better future for our people,” Ramos said.
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PROMOTING RP’S INTERESTS—German Professor Manfred Ollik (left) of Bonuan Gueset Centro in Dagupan City shows his report to House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. upon his return from Germany. It was Speaker de Venecia who tapped Ollik to promote the Philippines in Germany and invite his countrymen to invest in the country. - (Punchphoto by Cesar Ramirez)