Being Billionaire

It must be stupefying for the people of Pangasinan, especially the poor, to learn that their province is a “billionaire” interms of its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

And not just a billionaire, mind you, but the top billionaire in the entire country in those terms.

Truth is, it should not be all that surprising.

After all, the IRA, which is the share that local government units get from the national internal revenue tax collection, is largely based on the population level.
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The fighting ‘Usec’

By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.

Two Saturdays ago, while monitoring news events via radio as I drove through the streets of Makati, I chanced upon a radio public affairs program on ABS-CBN’s DZMM discussing the unabated smuggling in the country. Listening to it for a few minutes, I thought it was another of those ho-hum discussions on smuggling where customs officials predictably pay lip service to the cause of battling smuggling. Boy, was I wrong.
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Christmas revival of Manila Pen

By Gerry Garcia

DECEMBER 8, which is today Sunday, is a memorable if dismal historic date in 1941 when World War II reached our shores. It was the day when squadrons of  Japanese bombers which had just  bombed and laid to waste  the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, thundered  across Luzon’s skies to attack and destroy the unsuspecting US airbases in Clark, Pampanga and the naval base in Subic, Olongapo.
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Battle-scarred political warrior

By Jun Velasco

DAGUPEÑOS and 4th District denizens felt relieved when Speaker Joe de Venecia came home this weekend.

They saw no wrinkles on his face, neither furrows on his forehead and no sign of worry on his aura.

Those who had worried for him a lot due to the political turbulence arising from the  corruption charges made by his son and namesake Joey de Venecia III against  well placed  personas in the highest echelons of  government  were pleasantly surprised at the Speaker’s ebullience, unsullied savvy  and  poise and  even as he casually went around  his usual routine  inaugurating  infrastructure projects he has initiated in the district.
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Mareret

By Gonzalo Duque

VICE Gov. Marlyn Primicias Agabas is proving to be “game.”

She is not only a bright lawyer and an excellent leader, which makes us think she is a good successor of Gov. Amado Espino alyas Spines if the need arises.

Petite, charming and oozing with charm, our successor (we were vice governor once, remember?) was easily the star at the opening of the PRISAA games in San Carlos last week.
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Manaoag

By Al S. Mendoza

MANY of our balikbayans visit our Lady of Manaoag year in and year out. Some do it for curiosity’s sake, others for devotional commitment.

One such balikbayan was with us a while back during our regular pilgrimage to our Lady of Manaoag.

“What’s so special about Manaoag again?” the balikbayan, who hailed from the South, asked as our Toyota van revved up to leave for the trip.
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Bt corn much better than ordinary yellow hybrid corn

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

Small corn farmers have a lot of good reasons for adopting YieldGard, the first Bt corn variety introduced in the Philippines by Monsanto, a multi-national company, according to international agricultural economist and policy consultant Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales.

 After monitoring and evaluating the socio-economic impact of the Bt corn YieldGard, Dr. Gonzales said his findings clearly show that small farmers adopt this variety due to higher yields, cost efficiency, profitability, potential to cover household’s poverty thresholds, global competitiveness, and return on investment [ROI].
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“Catastrofe, Hambre, Muerte”

By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D.

Now it’s out in the open. There is neither fear nor shame in the matter. It is not enough for the national leadership to but be presidential. There is the feeling and aspiration to be royal. It feels so much satisfaction and consolation in being queenly. Majesty goes so well with supremacy and dominion. Excesses and extravagance accompany with royalty as a matter of course. Nobility is always very expensive for the common people to support and spend for. Now the Palace occupant is basking in the company of Spanish royalty; later, with English nobility.
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Bikefest with Bataoil’s backing

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

UNLESS the preparation hits some unavoidable snags, the bikefest, which I conceptualized more than a month ago, will finally come into reality on December 16, two days before my natal day.

This road race, dubbed as the “RD Gen. Bataoil-Jesus Garcia Cup”, is a joint project of this columnist with PNP Region 1 Director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil, a native of Lingayen, as main backer.

This is the first of its kind in the province out of all the races that I organized and directed since March 14, 1974.
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Two CJs

By Marifi Jara

I asked if there was anyone in the small audience who is — honestly and seriously — considering journalism as a career in the future.

One hand went up. That of a young lady named Giselle.

I was saddened by the response. But not at all surprised.
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