ANOTHER LAKAS BET—Gov. Victor Agbayani (left), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats provincial chairman, swears in Customs Deputy Commissioner Galant Soriano on Friday as new member of the ruling party in Pangasinan in preparation for the latter’s plan to run for representative in the third district of Pangasinan. Witnessing the oath-taking are Soriano’s brother, Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano of the Human Rights Commission, and Board Member Angel Baniqued.

The provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to receive a request from any of its election officers (EO) on the ground to have their territory declared as an “area of concern”, said Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, provincial election supervisor.

In an interview with The PUNCH Tuesday, Balarbar said this signals likely peaceful elections in the province in May.

He added that areas previously considered as “hotspots” in past elections remain peaceful up to now, except for some minor incidents.

“Wala pa namang nag sa-submit ng request regarding that (None has submitted any request),” he said, referring to the declaration of areas of concern.
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Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz has hailed the crucial role of the media, especially during the election period, and lambasted the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for allegedly “exterminating” those who uphold the truth.

At the same time, the church leader cautioned the industry’s practitioners against the risks of their profession following the murder of Hernani Pastolero, publisher-editor of the weekly Lightning Courier, who was shot dead Monday morning outside his house in Shariff Kabunsuan.

Cruz told The PUNCH, “From the time the present administration took office, no less than about 49 journalists had been exterminated, that is the word, exterminated”.
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THE total number of registered voters in Pangasinan has reached 1,363,297, reflecting an additional 33,432 voters compared with the record for the 2004 election, making it  one of the  biggest vote-rich provinces in the country, according to data from the Commission on Election.

Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, provincial election supervisor, told The PUNCH that Pangasinenses are known to be good in exercising their electoral rights as in the 2004 election wherein the province posted a high turnout rate of 83%, indicating 1,099,520 votes.

President Gloria Arroyo, who considers herself a Pangasinense as her late mother, former First Lady Eva Macaraeg Macapagal, is from Binalonan town, gathered significant votes here in the 2004 presidential polls while her closest rival, the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., was also a Pangasinense from San Carlos City.
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FILIPINO DOCTORS FROM OKLAHOMA—The Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) gives its appreciation to the doctors of the Philippine Medical Association of Oklahoma, USA — seated with their Certificates of Recognition during a dinner reception held at the residence of Dr. Rebecca Feliciano in Bacayao Sur on February 7, 2007 - for their voluntary services during a recent medical mission. Standing are the PMHA Board of Management with Vice Mayor Alvin D. Fernandez (second from left).

EXPANDING UP NORTH—Dragon dancers perform in front of the Appliance Center of the newly opened CSI Candon owned by local retail magnate Belen Fernandez inside Stern Mall in Candon City owned by Deputy Speaker Eric Singson of Ilocos Sur. – Punchphoto by CSR

MEDALS — Members of Team YMCA Dagupan City who grabbed the 2nd runner-up spot overall in the 6th Pacoy Ortega Memorial Karate Cup held February 17, 2007 in San Fernando City, La Union. From left, Jona Reyes, John Enrico Vasquez, Jayson Ramil Macaalay, Fidel Salvador Ryes, Dan Kurt Vidal, Dave Derrick Rosario, Gerard Martin Tamayo, John Meverick Edralin, Mariceline Quirubin and Dr. Enrico Vasquez.

CANDON CITY–Dagupan City’s entrepreneurs continue to expand their operations to the north with the recent opening of retail business branches in Stern Mall here owned by Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson.

One of them is Belen Fernandez, City Supermarket Inc. (CSI) president, who just opened a department store, appliance center, toy store and supermarket. The Siapno-Tada Optical has also branched out here.

Fernandez said their expansion is aimed at standing strong against the competition from big retailers from Manila who are now entering into the provincial market.
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The CSI Multi-function Hall, pegged to become a new landmark in Dagupan City, is set for completion within the next two months and is expected to become the “convention center of the north”.

The structure, located in barangay Lucao within the sprawling CSI The City Mall complex, will have a sitting capacity of 6,000 people, the biggest of its kind in Northern Luzon.

Behind the venture is Belen Fernandez, president of Northern Luzon’s retail trade giant City Supermarket Inc. (CSI) based in Dagupan Cty.
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BIGTIME cycling returns to Mangaldan today with defending champion and Philippine standout Reynaldo Navarro aiming to become the second back-to-back winner of the town’s annual road battle as he heads an elite roster of riders chasing the P10,000 top prize plus a trophy.

The bikefest, dubbed this year as “Werweran XIV”, will be undertaken in two categories under the auspices of Mayor Herminio Romero, town fiesta executive committee chief Kgd. Judith Gubatan and the Sangguniang Bayan members.

The elite-pro event highlighting the whole day occasion, which kicks off at 11:00 a.m., will start and finish across the municipal hall of Mangaldan. The route will see the 80 racers traversing the neighboring municipalities of San Jacinto, San Fabian and back to Mangaldan nine times with total distance of 162 kilometers.
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