Van S. de Leon
13 July 2007

 

 

Mr. Sonny Villafinia,

You are perfectly right. The listening Governor Espino should fill up the different positions in this council with those who have proven passion and qualification for the Pangasinan culture and arts council.

I have seen lots of works & writings in defense of Pangasinan culture specially the preservation of the Pangasinan dialect of Mr. Sonny Villafinia in the internet. I could see his passion doing it on his own using a big portion of his precious time of his life and personal money.

Mr. Governor, I strongly believe this fellow Pangasinense, Mr. Sonny Villafinia, is the most qualified to be the Executive Director of this council. I don’t know him personally. He has the passion at par with Ermin Garcia Sr. He does not give up his idea against all odds.

Mr. Governor Espino, I am not shy or humble to offer myself to be the Assistant Executive Director of the Pangasinan Culture & Arts Council. This guy, Mr. Sonny Villafinia and I will mobilize all available resources to make this Pangasinan Culture and Arts Council dynamic and responsive to achieve its goals.

It will not be “Bonggahan” or “Pormahan” or “Ribbon - cutting ceremonies here and there” etc Mr. Villafinia and I will manage this and be empowered to structure it and to select its constituents elect.

We are fed-up of these. Mr. Governor you need me and Mr. Villafinia. I am based here in California but I believe I can do the job.” No anggapoy ongalaw. Anggapoy On galaw”

Here are the partial agenda that the PCAC will bitterly fight for against all odds:

1. The highway being constructed in Dagupan should be named Ermin Garcia Sr. Memorial Highway. Mr Ermin Garcia Sr.-former Editor-Publisher/Owner of Sunday Punch is a great Pangasinan Hero who gave up his life and left behind his young family who continue with the same passion to keep Sunday Punch alive even amidst non -stop assassination of Philippine journalists all over Pangasinan speaking and of defense of truth. TOP priority

2. A resolution should be passed declaring Mr. Ermin Garcia’s birthday a Pangasinan holiday. TOP Priority

3. A bronze statue of Mr. Ermin Garcia Sr. should be erected In Dagupan City’s Ermin Garcia Sr. Central Park beside that of Jose Rizal statue. TOP priority

4. A resolution should be passed affirming that people from Pangasinan are called Pangasinense. Not Pangalatok or Pangalatot. Their dialect is Pangasinan ‘Not Pangalatik or Pangalatit or Pangalato. These words are derogatory and should be legally banned in their usage in day to day conversation and in any form of mass media specially television and radio. Radio and television all over the Philippines should be forbidden to use and be responsible to see to it that it is not mentioned. A monetary fine will be imposed on them. Elementary and high schools should get involve in this.

5. Pangasinan dialect must be preserved. Pangasinan arts and culture and grammar and composition should be a part of Social Studies subject in elementary school and Philippine History in High school.

6. To establish Pangasinan Orchid Society with a goal of making Pangasinan the orchid capital of the Philippines and number 1 orchid exporting province. Orchid is a million dollar industry. Pangasinan has the right weather for orchid raising. Let us tap this weather to generate jobs for all fellow Pangasinense and revenue for the Pangasinan treasury and to attract tourists in Pangasinan. An Annual Orchid Show and Festival? Seminars on orchid raising? Ideas and inputs will be solicited locally and abroad.

7. A province wide research of the unique arts, traditions, songs, literature, historical data, food etc of Pangasinan culture that may serve to attract tourists in Pangasinan. Example: Adobong dalokdok, Rat Steak, Snake steak etc restaurant etc. Have you heard of “Tupa na Niog Sport”. Any other ideas.

8. Fellow posters add more, Sir Governor Espino, try a combination of overseas and local partnership to run this council.

9. Any forum posters who wants to be a part of this council? Let us put a little action to our postings and challenge ourselves.

WE have to start somewhere else fellow posters. “You in action, Pangasinan in motion”

“Gifts” – again!

By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D.

From roads to bridges, houses to water pumps, irrigation projects to electrification—these and other government projects and public works are customarily and proudly, shamelessly even, are called “Gifts” (“bigay”) from the national leadership as again recently reported from Northern Luzon. The largess is at times loudly advertised as a “present” (“handog”) or “offering” (“Alay”). They are infallibly trumpeted as clear evidence of the benevolence and generosity of the Malacañang occupant.
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