Ramon
13 Feb 2007

The gubernatorial race in Pangasinan is very interesting. Never did I understand the logic of fielding in members of your family to occupy your soon-to-be vacated position. This is what Gov. Agbayani seems to be doing. He is hoping that his popularity will rub off on his wife and get her elected as the province’s next governor. They are saying that the ongoing projects of the governor might not be completed if someone with a different family name occupies the post.

If you ask me, 9 years should have been enough to complete most of his projects, if not all. One cannot help but think that this is another plan to cover up illegal activities in the governor’s office. I hope this is not the case. Luckily, there are other people competent enough to lead this province who is also running for governor.

In the coming elections, let us base our vote not just on the candidate’s surname, but more importantly his/her experience and credentials. Let us not forget that “democracy” means rule of the people, not rule of a family.

Gloria Pagsolingan Geronimo
13 Feb 2007

On behalf of Pagsolingan-De Guzman Family, labay miy misalamat ed amin ya dinmagop, akibiang ed kaermenan mi ed inpatey nen papang mi, Juan Pagsolingan Jr. Salamat met ed saray kakaaro ya papari ya nanmisa ed abong mi para kinen papa, Rev. Father Reden Mejia, Fr. Bobbits Batecan, Fr. Jing Nacor and Fr. Laforteza. Salamat ed sikayon amin agagui, say ermen me onlelemew lapud saray moral support yo.

Ms. Ric
13 Feb 2007

Mr. Ramos, o sige, uwi na tayo at pukpukin natin ang ulo ni Juan Dela Cruz.

Seriously though, I was talking about something REASONABLE and DOABLE given the couple of months left before the election. It’ll take an eternity (okay, a few decades… if we’re lucky) to unravel the twists and knots we, Filipinos, have gotten ourselves into. Yes, Mr. Ramos, you’re as guilty as I am. At least some of us chose to stay and help poor Juan Dela Cruz.

To the whole Punch Forum family: Happy Heart Day!!! Be home early and surprise your loved one with pinakbet or pinapaitan.

Bonsot
13 Feb 2007

Happy Birthday to Manang Rosie on the 14th. Antoy handa yo?

Manong Jun, hope you made it there safe and sound. My best regards to everyone, especially Mom. Hope to see her soon.

Aurora Aquino
13 Feb 2007

Our country is moving at turtle pace due to too much politics. Calling all voters to wake up.

Jeremias Andrade Carrera
13 Feb 2007

Mr. Oriel:

Do you still trust those in charge of your CROCUS FUND even after they mishandled it? Is it not pure and simple stupidity to continue put your trust in someone you put into power to stop corruption, illegal gambling, illegal drugs, and after five long years, the same or even worst condition exist.

When did the Philippines become No. 126 most corrupt nation? NOT DURING ESTRADA’s TENURE. KEEP ON DANCING ON THE ISSUES AND MOST OF ALL, KEEP ON DREAMING IN YOUR FANTASY.

Eduardo Pontaoe
13 Feb 2007

Why scrupulous…conscientious…and trustworthy public servants or to be are fleeing in droves? Take Mayor Braganza. His disgust in what he’d seen and experienced in the political and moral decadence of the Arroyo government made him turned his back on a political career that is so promising.

Millions of Filipinos will one day see the light and demand change not in the concept of style of government but change in the literal meaning of the word. As long as the Filipino is in deep morass of corruption, nepotism and autocratic authority, there will no end in sight.

Here comes Sec Pingkoy Duque. Why did he refuse to be included in the Arroyo line-up of senatorial candidates? It should be an honor to him, right? No. Arroyo misread Sec. Duque, the virtuous and effective public servant at Health. She could have known that Sec Pingkoy, is beyond the mentality of the chickens that roast in the Senate. How can he serve the people working among actors, clowns, the brain dead and the incompetent? I won’t blame him.

The speed of which the Philippines is going down, it can be agreed upon that it will take generations to undo the Gordian knot of dishonest…debased…vitiated​ governance​ of Arroyo and her predecessors.

Isidro Ramos
13 Feb 2007

Ms. Ric, I agree with you 100% that the Comelec and the Catholic church should provide the common voter (Juan dela Cruz) all the information needed regarding the candidates however, Juan dela Cruz maybe smart but his ability or logic to discern complex political issues seems to disappear in the midst of vote buying, family, and peer pressure to elect the “right” candidates.

Unlike his US counterpart John Smith, he is fiercely independent minded individual and lower to upper middle class. Point is Juan dela Cruz seriously needs to be re-educated from the bottom up starting in Kindergarten to high school in order to get him out of his current situation.

Eduardo Pontaoe
13 Feb 2007

Wow!!!! Last week’s Punch headline put forward the blatant lie the legal chicken Din Din Baniqued claimed in a radio interview that The Benjie signed a “contract” with JDL Motors .. the towing company from San Jacinto. How can she be that stupid? Did she forget that few honest members of the City Council will do a full-court press to unravel what’s transpired in her claim of a “contract”? Now, the flunkies extraordinaire of Din Din Baniqued, Robert Mejia, Romelita Alcantara and Digna Liwanag turned around with tails between their legs when pushed that they had not seen the “contract” signed by the vainglorious and foremost autocrat of them all….The Benjie. The rats are jumping ship. It’s to his/her own these lowlifes tried to preserve what’s left of The Benjie autocracy…their own skin.

Politics make strange bedfellows and when you have these most corrupted public officials trying to trump each other for survival something will have to give. We could see how graft and corruption are played in Dagupan when these loathsome bunch start singing. Is it not interesting that corruption starts and ends in San Jacinto? The garbage dump debacle is in San Jacinto and so is this towing “contract”. A mere coincidence? Go figure.

Jess Delfin
12 Feb 2007

Mr. Oriel,

That’s exactly why I asked you if you have a Brooklyn bridge to sell. As you are hell-bent in your belief that Arroyo is beyond any criticism, you go right ahead, it is your right to be so. There’s no chance in hell that anyone can change your mind about that. It is perfectly right, you can believe in whatever you believe, like the FAIRY TALE that Arroyo is a competent leader. It is a useless endeavor to argue with you as you apparently are unable to see the economic and political situation in the Philippines today.

Granted, everyone should be afforded a chance but what does she has to show for after 5 years as a president? Pa-charming here, pa-charming there maybe. Political leaders are at a different level. As public figures, they make decisions that affect many lives, hence, they are subject to critical review of their performance. Arroyo is the leader and any failures in her watch would be her responsibility.

If you ever wore the uniform, or if you ever served in a position of leadership, you would know exactly what ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY is. Do you?