Culture of merry-making

By Al Mendoza

I MISSED the fiesta in Binmaley Feb. 1-2 and I hope Mayor Sammy Rosario will forgive me. You see, he had warmly, sincerely, invited me to attend the festivities on Friday, Feb. 1. As usual, work in Manila was the culprit.

I will make it up to you later, Mayor.

Meanwhile, please continue doing good, beautiful, things in your town.

I can see that you’ve been going great guns. Your renovated town hall is beautiful, indeed. Your river is practically cleared of illegal fish pens. Your roads are literally litter-free.

Keep up the good work, Sammy.
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Farmers adopt promising lines for Direct Seeding

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

TIMES HAVE CHANGED as many farmers are becoming more and more innovative.  In the case of selecting varieties that they would plant, a good number of farmers are already planting promising lines in a commercial scale even before the National Rice Varietal Improvement Group could test them nationwide.

Such is the case of four PhilRice breeding lines for direct seeding that are still undergoing on-farm testing in Dingle, Iloilo with the collaboration of WESVIARC (Western Visayas Integrated Agriculture Research Center) starting in the 2007 dry season.  After the second season, the farmer-cooperator and four other farmers already started to grow them in a wide scale.
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“Malacanang diocese”

By +Oscar V. Cruz D. D.

It was a good joke but with a reason. It was real fun but with a point. Those who mentioned it had their good laugh but were not entirely happy. Those who heard it did not really mind it but neither were they altogether amused. Needless to say, the “Malacañang Diocese” is both a pun and a punch. It is the former as far as many people are concerned that is in conjunction with Church leaders. But to more perceptive individuals, it is the latter that is in relation with the leading Malacañang occupant.
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Referees’ accreditation starts in April

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

“NOBODY is accredited yet throughout the country as far as referees are concerned. We will start giving them accreditations this April if they pass the test and belong to a group recognized by Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or BAP-SBP.”

Those were the words of Danny V. Soria, BAP-SBP Area 2 Head and the Regional Director of Cordillera Administrative Region during my chitchat with him last Sunday in San Fabian, before the start of the goodwill game between the University of Pangasinan Webczars and the Baguio City-based Cordillera Career Development Colleges.
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Piece of heaven

By Marifi Jara

I planned on writing about the largely overlooked Millenium  Development Goals this week, but one e-mail that came through I feel deserves space. Talk of the MDG targets can wait a bit.

The e-mail is a reaction to Kristine Oineza’s Young Roots column last week from Mr. Max Mararac, originally from Barrio Quintong in San Carlos City. More than anything, it is inspiring to know that our young do inspire our readers. I am also moved by Mr. Mararac’s lovely tale of leaving but not really saying goodbye to Pangasinan.
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Babytalk (Part 3)

By Emmanuelle

LUCKY are those whose every triumph in life are well-preserved in a library of precious memories - baby’s first album, pictures or slides calendared and captioned; honor ribbons, medals, sashes and diplomas framed or laminated and displayed on walls; plaques and trophies dust-free and shiny on shelves; tapes or discs labeled and stacked on racks. Some proud parents would even go as far as have their children’s names, and their college degrees, blown-up in size and exhibited prominently at the facade of the house! Aligned and in order!
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Edwin
3 Feb 2008

 

 

Several days ago we were informed that a son of my wife’s niece was at a hospital (Regional Center?) because he had the lower portion of his lower leg amputated. As is the practice, he was not allowed out of the hospital until payment to the hospital was made.

Although the practice of holding the patient captive until payment is made is reprehensible, what was eventually charged for the services I think was reasonable. What happened after he was released I find quite macabre.

Upon payment to the hospital not only was our niece’s son released but his mother was given a bag. Inside the bag was her son’s severed leg! Is this normal practice? If it is, not only is it cruel but it is very unsanitary and the practice should be stopped.

I can only hope that there was some mistake in the disposition of the severed leg. If there was no mistake, then it is time for the government to end this practice.