Lessons of Myanmar

By Gonzalo Duque

IT’S shocking that a very young man known for his amiability, industry and “workaholism” would die at a tender age.

Reggie Ubando, 40, who until  lately, was in charge of the city’s waste  management, succumbed to cardiac arrest while Dagupan was in the midst of merry-making at the world renown kalutan of which  he was very much a part of,  whether  under  Mayor Al Fernandez or former Mayor Benjie Lim.

Reggie’s passing is symbolic marking a passage from joy to sorrow, which could strike in seconds or minutes.

Who would ever imagine that such a young, brilliant (he was a top graduate of Lyceum Northwestern University), well-meaning guy would leave this world too soon!
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Origin of Pista’y Dayat

By Gonzalo Duque

THESE festivals  we are  having these days — from Lingayen to Dagupan and all the coastal towns of San Fabian, Binmaley, Labrador and  Sual  including Alaminos City — have  their  stories of  origin. Read on.

Manong Resty Basa, well-known local historian and awardee for his work, wrote a recent article for the local papers, and we are taking the liberty to reprint it here:

“Pista’y Dayat is Governor Francisco Q. Duque’s legacy to the people of Pangasinan. It was his brainchild.
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Some senators are changing their tack

By Gonzalo Duque

SOMETHING good is going on in the Senate. They are now coming out of their ivory tower to help PGMA move the nation forward.

Instead of allowing themselves locked in investigative work, which is not their job in the first place, they have opened up to more realistic and positive issues in legislative work.

We are referring to their (many senators) active participation in the Legislative Executive Development Council (LEDAC), a novel feature lately in the national government’s working dynamics.
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Dr. Lucio Tan Day in Dagupan

By Gonzalo Duque

LT (not Lorna Tolentino but the business tycoon Dr. Lucio Tan) took Pangasinan, especially Dagupan City by storm, so to speak, last Wednesday.

He came to receive a doctorate honoris causa in business management and entrepreneurship from our school, Lyceum Northwestern University, which was long overdue, a first he received in North Luzon, which delighted no end his lovely and self-effacing wife Carmen   and 80 members of his staff and personal friends from Manila, that made LNU’s graduation rites a China Day of sorts.
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Dr. Lucio Tan in town

By Gonzalo Duque

ZAMBOANGA CITY — This lovely city reminds us of our grade school song.

‘Don’t you go, don’t you go to far Zamboanga…” but we went, and here we are.

But we were not here for fun. We were here to co-preside over the PRISSA games.

We can’t forget the one we sponsored in Pangasinan two years ago, which was more successful especially in media mileage, organization and tripartite involvement of all sectors.

We wish to felicitate Mayor Jesse Robredo and his whole city council who were all very cooperative. We offered to host again, but Mayor Lobredo of Naga City has been okayed to be the host next year.
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Derogatory

By Gonzalo Duque

WELCOME to Dagupan and Pangasinan, Dr. Lucio Tan.

        The famous  Chinese business mogul and philanthropist is in town, thanks to the collective efforts of Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, our old friend George Cham and  other personal friends for helping us to extend our invitation to a humble but superlatively successful man. The business titan will be conferred a doctorate degree in honoris causa in humanities by the Lyceum Northwestern University on April l9, the first, we believe, he will receive outside Metro Manila.

        It’s really about time we honor such a man, don’t you think so? Mabuhay ka, Dr. Lucio Tan. And thank you for honoring our invitation.
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Let’s restore sanity in our country, please!

By Gonzalo Duque

IT’S great to be back!

Yes, after one long month vacation in the U.S.

To Sammy and  Mita Sta. Maria,  our  gracious  hosts,  thanks for  the warm  reception  and  the  memories!

Some of the good Fil-Ams we stayed with there want to donate to our unfortunate folk here.  We shall tackle this in future issues.

* * *

 In  US of A, our  fellow  Dagupenos  are worried  about  us,  back  home  here,  because  of  the  worsening   recession  in the US,  and  the  rice  shortage  crisis  here.
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