Wednesday, April 30, 2014

R1MC Top Dentist Arrested for Shabu



By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – A sullen director of Region-1 Medical Center (R1MC) bowed to fire Jose Teofilo del Prado, Jr., the chief dentist of R1MC after the latter was arrested by the police here for possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride or famously known “shabu”.

“Now that I know that he became positive in the drug test, he can expect to be sacked in his post.
I want to be cleared that we do not condone such act at R1MC especially if the personnel committed an illegal drug violation. He reaps what he committed”.
P/Supt. 
Christopher Abrahano told Northern Watch that del Prado, 47 and a resident of 9  Poblacion Norte Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, was arrested on April 28 in his red Toyota Vios car with plate number ZX 791 after a brief chased with the police.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Mayor's Wife files Libel vs. NIA Personalities







By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY – Mayor Samuel Rosario said his wife Lorna Grace has filled a criminal libel suit against personalities whom he said  maliciously implicated his wife on an alleged corruption scandal at the National Irrigation Administration.
Rosario said his spouse, deputy administrator for finance and administration of NIA,  filed a written defamation case against the officials of the NIA Employees Association of the Philippines (NIAEASP) and other three private groups, for maliciously imputing her in a corruption scandal.
“How can my wife be involved with that where she is not involved in the nitty-gritty of the engineering details of the project?” Rosario said.
Rosario said a similar case has been filed in Bicol by Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operation Modesto Membreve against the same personalities after they published at the national dailies a manifesto they sent to President Aquino assailing him and Lorna Grace.
 
Binmaley Mayor Sam Rosario (Extreme Right)
According to the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, if one of the offended parties  in libel case is a public officer whose office is in the City of Manila at the time of the commission of the offense, the action shall be filed in the Court of First Instance (Regional Trial Court) of the City of Manila, or of the city or province where the libelous article is printed and first published.
In case such public officer does not hold office in the City of Manila, the action shall be filed in the Court of First Instance (RTC) of the province or city where he held office at the time of the commission of the offense or where the libelous article is printed and first published

Bible-Quoting Top Cop Assigns in "Wild West City"

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

I was hooked recently reading Bob Woodward’s hard covered 237 pages “Maestro: Greenspan’s Fed and the American Boom. One of the excerpts in page 110 of Woodward, my favorite author where my latest collection of his book is Obama’s War, said: “Greenspan noted that the (news) reporting had changed, that reporters were more aggressive and often competent in economics. When he had been President Gerald Ford’s economic adviser in 1975-76, he told the committee, “You should just feed them (media men)  pabulum (soft digestible food- MCO) and they pretty much accepted it. That clearly has changed quite dramatically”.
NEW CHIEF OF POLICE – Police Superintendent Charlie D. Umayam replaced early this April P/Supt. Rodrigo Castro as the chief of police of the 86 villages San Carlos City, Pangasinan. Umayam, a native of Aguilar, Pangasinan, was assigned at the Police Regional Office-1 in San Fernando City, La Union before he was whisked at the mammoth city. Umayam, known to be a religious and with his Bible prominently displayed on his table, is a product of the Philippine National Police Academy Class of 2000. 
I could not agree more. But here in the Philippines many media men and women are just like the gullible pabulum eater of Greenspan.
They just write what they had interviewed with their source. They did not clarify deeply on the matter.
Media practitioners should study or read voraciously about economics (what’s the advantages of a strong peso, a weak peso?) and law. They don’t satisfy themselves to be mechanical where what those politicians told them they accepted it as gospel truth. They should be searching and judgmental in their interview with their source. A lot of these politicians are pinheads whose statement needs to be exposed, too.
***
One of the anecdotes I encountered about Philippine media’s idiocy was a press conference in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
It was about the case of a lost P9 million owned by the city government. The one in custody said she was held up (robbery) inside the Land Bank of the Philippines branch in the city.
For the maximum appreciation of the anecdote, please allow me to define the words “Prima Facie (spell “patsi”).  Prima Facie denotes evidence that – unless rebutted – would be sufficient to prove a particular proposition or fact.
MAYOR: Si Cashier ay kinasuhan ko na dahil may Prima Facie, si Mr.A at si Mr.B ay kinasuhan na rin dahil may Prima Facie.
 MANILA RADIO ANNOUNCER (with husky voice): Anong klaseng report ito! Kinasuhan niyo na nga iyong tatlo, pero bakit si Prima Facie hindi niyo kinasuhan? Sobrang lakas naman niya ata dito sa ciudad niyo!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Huli na si Cedric, Raz. Si Deniece, ibang Kasamahan ang susunod

Cedric Lee (in orange) and Simeon Raz (in red), at the NAIA, 27 April 2014. ERIC 
MANILA – (UPDATE, 9:15 a.m.) Arrested businessman Cedric Lee and companion Simeon Palma Raz were on their way to court in Taguig City Sunday morning after arriving past 8 a.m. from Tacloban City at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City escorted by a convoy of agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police.
The arresting team has to present the suspects before the Regional Trial Court-Branch 271 that issued the no bail arrest warrant against them on the charge of serious illegal detention filed by actor Vhong Navarro.

Sand-Sculpting contest to feature creativity of P’sinense artists



Lingayen -- Ingenuity, creativity and originality -- these three, including a focus on highlighting the cultural heritage and celebrating the Golden Era of the province  in sand-sculpted artistic images along the Capitol beachfront on April 30 is something that Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival) revelers shouldn’t miss.

The sand-sculpting competition, a component activity of Pangasinan Pistay Dayat celebration, is open to a group of five members regardless of gender. The contest, however, is limited to 20 participating groups for adult category and 5 groups for children category (10-year-old and below).
The competition starts at 5AM.
The competition -- now on its second year, is an avenue for Pangasinense artists and sand sculptors to display their artistic abilities through molding the fine sand of Lingayen Gulf into three-dimensional artistic images.
Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested participants may get the official entry form from the event secretariat at the Pangasinan Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (PHUDCC), 2nd floor of Malong Building, here.

Palaro sa Tabi ng Dagat

LINGAYEN—Fun and excitement continue to fill the Capitol Beachfront with the many sporting activities that the provincial government has prepared to provide an exhilarating experience to the bulk of beachgoers and residents craving to partake of the revelry that the Pistay Dayat celebration brings.
            The Palaro sa Dagat held on April 26 at the Beachfront consisting of native games brought thrills and screams to the crowd as they watched the participants climbed poles in the Palosebo competition, race against each other during the sack race, run after piglets in the Hulian or Agawan ng Biik and display the best of their strength in the Tug-Of-War contest.
            The Provincial Veterinary Office has expressed delight that the event has been among the most awaited activity during the month of the sea festival since they spearheaded the conduct of the sports activity under Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., administration.
            Eager teenagers and adult residents have also looked forward to the various activities that somehow give them a time for recreation and relaxation.
            JL Dizon, a Lingayen resident who was among the Palosebo participant said, the sports activity is an invigorating experience giving him so much fun and enjoyment.

Skimboarding set in Capitol beach area from April 26 - May 2



Lingayen --- Skimboarding may become a regular activity at the Capitol beachfront area with the launching of this sport on April 26, Saturday, 3PM as part of the month-long Pangasinan Pistay Dayat celebration.
Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino (2nd from Right) and Alaminos City Mayor Art Celeste (Extreme Right) .
            Revelers to the annual summer festivity will be treated to a series of skim-boarding clinics and exhibitions by the Pangasinan Skimboarding Community scheduled from April 26 to May 2 from 7-10AM and 2-5PM.
“Skimboarding will be introduced in Lingayen as another water sports activity to stir up the interest of sports-minded Pangasinenses to try this relatively new sport,” Officer-in-Charge of Provincial Population Office Ellsworth Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. sees skimboarding as a watersports activity that could attract more tourists to visit the Capitol beachfront.
Skimboarding is  like surfing but a smaller board without fins is used. This sport is usually played in shallow waters with small waves. Anyone who would want to try this activity will ride on a skim board, meet an incoming breaking wave and glide across the water surface then catch back to the shore in a manner similar to surfing.
            A Skimboarding community based in Dagupan City introduced this kind of sporting activity in the province and its members are willing to teach anyone who would like to try this sport, Gonzales said.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Cayetano presses De Lima: Make list public now!

Expose and charge Napoles clients. Clear the innocent.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano on Friday reiterated his call to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to immediately make public the affidavit executed by detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles on the P10-billion pork barrel scam.


Cayetano is asking Sec. De Lima to also verify if people on the list are in fact guilty and are clients of Napoles, or if their names are simply being dragged into the controversy.

“Ito na ang sinasabi ko nung isang araw na habang hindi nilalabas ang affidavit ni Napoles, maraming mga listahan ang maglalabasan, guguluhin ang issue, at yung mga guilty ang makikinabang. Ito na nga ang nangyayari,” Cayetano stressed.

NEW TOP COP

Police Superintendent Charlie D. Umayam replaced
 early this April P/Supt. Rodrigo Castro as the chief of 
police of the 86 villages San Carlos City, Pangasinan. 
Umayam, a native of Aguilar, Pangasinan, was assigned 
at the Police Regional Office-1 in San Fernando City, 
La Union before he was whisked at the mammoth city. 
Umayam, known to be a religious and with his Bible 
prominently displayed on his table, is a product of the 
Philippine National Police Academy Class of 2000.

SM pays P450M lot for mall in Urdaneta City



By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY – Move over Dagupan City, this burgeoning city would be eclipsing the former as it hosts a Top 500 Corporation SM Prime Holding, Inc (SMPHI) that has bought lands in Brgy. Anonas here worth hundreds of millions of pesos.
According to a top brass of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, who asked anonymity, SMPHI paid last year P39 million capital gain taxes at the BIR Revenue District Office-6 (RDO-6) based in this city after owners of the lands consolidated themselves and sold their lots for the Sys’ controlled corporation.
“SM plans to put a mall there. We will be building our new BIR office there, too. The distance of our office and SM is 1.9 kilometers only from the city proper”.

Mangaldan Mayor to meet top brass of SM



By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – Mayor Bonafe de Vera-Parayno plans to meet the leadership of SM Prime Holding, Inc. (SMPHI) in Manila to offer a village here so the retail giant can put shop.
“I’m planning to go there, ipakilala ko ang Mangaldan. That there is a strategic space for SM where madadaanan ng mga ta-o to the pilgrim town of Manaoag and going to the summer capital Baguio City,” she stressed.
Parayno refers to Brgy. Anolid as an ideal place to host the biggest regional mall in Northern Luzon after the chances of SMPHI to build an edifice in Brgy. Tambac, Dagupan City went to uncertainty. Some sourcesblamed the election of city mayor Belen Fernandez, a mall czarina, to office in May 2013.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Exercise prudence in entering military accord with US - PH Senator


By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

MANILA, Philippines – Whether it is an expanded armed forces cooperation or a return of the United States military bases in the country, a Philippine senator said government officials should practice prudence when it enters into a treaty with the United States.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (Center) is one of the intelligent minds 
of the Philippine Senate. He is a presidential hopeful. Cayetano
 is flanked here by Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino (Left) and 
Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan).
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said  whatever agreement the country enters with the Americans, the most important thing would be for the Filipinos to know the details first, and the benefits the Philippines would get in hosting the U.S armed forces in the country.
“We know the purpose of the facilities is for the protection of the U.S interest. But we have to articulate our interest to them, too. If the agreement is not naturally helpful to us but only for the Americans, what’s the need to host them in the country?” he posed.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Police General "Kidnapped" in Dagupan City

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA


What is the difference between South Korea’s Danwon high school Vice Principal Kang Min-gyu, 52, and pork barrel scams alleged conspirators Janet Napoles, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla?
GENERAL AND MEDIA MEN - Police two-star General  Manuel Barcena
 
 (2nd from left) recently rekindled and renewed old ties with media practitioners
of Pangasinan in a luncheon at the seafood restaurant Silverios in the city.
 Barcena, a PMA class 1981 classmate of Chief PNP Allan Purisima, was in
Dagupan  to attend the homecoming for the Top Chief of Police (COP) challenge
shooting competition with former police chiefs of the city as one of the draws in
 the month long Bangus Festival. According to Dagupan COP Supt. Chris Abrahano
 those who responded to the invitation were Police Director Barcena; Police Chief
Superintendent Noli G. Taliño, Deputy Director, Special Action Force; Police Chief
Superintendent Francisco Manalo Jr. (retired); Police Senior Superintendent Mariano
Luis M. Verzosa Jr. (retired); Police Superintendent Ditz Quijardo (retired); and Police
Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr.
 
Kang committed suicide by hanging himself with a belt on his neck on a tree because of the shame where a ferry that carried 476 passengers mostly students under his watch capsized. Among the passengers, 202 as of press time have been saved.
274, son of a gun, have been feared drown.
What’s the difference between former Army general Angelo Reyes and former police chief Avelino Razon (who is incarcerated now at Camp Crame for malversation in connection with the alleged bogus repair and maintenance of 28 police armored vehicles to the tune of P358.58 million in 2007 and 2008),plunder accused Generals Carlos Garcia, Jacinto Ligot, and Lt. Col. George Rabusa, and Supt. Dionesio Borromeo, former Dagupan City chief of police ( who is jailed at Muntinlupa after he was accused of allegedly protecting a trillion of pesos worth of illegal drug shabu laboratory in La Union), and Euro Generals?
Reyes who was fingered to be involved in hundreds of millions of pesos of “paba-on” shot himself to death because he could not bear the shame the accusation being hurled to him by the media and senators of the Republic.
Except for Kang and Reyes, the rest have the gall to tell us: “Just see you in court”

Manoag PNP maintains zero crime rates despite million’s of devotees



By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

MANAOAG – Despite a meager number of policemen to watch the law and order of this pilgrimage town, the top cop here through sheer chutzpah maintains a zero crime incident vis-Ă -vis the roughly a million of devotees that swarm the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in the Holy Week.
AWARDEE – Manaoag  Mayor Kim Mikael Amador (Center) posed with Congressman
 Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan) and Manaoag Police Chief Major Edison V. Revita 
(Left and Right, respectively) after Amador was feted lately for meritorious support in the
 implementation of Police Patrol 101 where he procured mountain bikes to buttress the security
 of the pilgrimage town Manaoag, Pangasinan. The award was given by acting Police Regional 
Office-1 Director then Senior Superintendent Moro Virgilio Lazo and Chief of Directorial Staff 
Senior Supt. Marlou C. Chan. 
Police Chief Inspector Edison Revita, who became the chief of police here in September last year, said that with the 17,000 and a roughly million of devotees in ordinary day and Holy Week, respectively,  that influx the Shrine, he has to think doable security measures as the sheer volume of devotees became a security nightmare for his 46 policemen.

Force Multiplier from Civilians
“My initial action is to organize the groups of civilians in the Shrine that include all ambulant vendors, parking assistant, and transport groups (TODA),” stressed by Revita who is a member of class 2001 of the Philippine National Police Academy.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Mayor Mark, Dep’t Heads to meet on projects


By Mortz C. Ortigoza
CALASIAO – The mayor of this burgeoning town will meet his department heads after the Holy Week to discuss their accomplishments and the projects their departments are going to complete.
Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay (right) spoke in a
media "Kapihan" while his father Vice Mayor Roy listened.
“Basically, we are focus on the infrastructures and the service we are going to give to the people,” Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay said.
He cited that his administration looks on the completion of the multi-purpose hall being built at Dinalaoan Elementary School, the covered court at Nalsian – Bacayao Elementary School, and the ordinance on anti-littering that will be passed and signed by him into law within this year.
“Pati na rin iyong paghuli sa colorum. Pero nasabihan naman natin sila (motorized tricycle drivers and operators) earlier at least one month before to give them enough ample time to secure their requirements (We are going to discuss the apprehension of the unregistered public utility vehicles. But I told the motorized tricycle drivers and operators to secure their requirements earlier so they can have enough time),” he stressed.

“STATIONS OF THE CROSS” SET APRIL 16, 3PM AT CAPITOL COMPLEX




Lingayen -- In observance of the Lentern season, the provincial government has scheduled a Holy Mass at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) tomorrow, April 16, 2PM -- and will be followed by the Stations of the Cross around Capitol Complex at 3PM.

Pangasinenses are invited to participate in the “Holy Mass for Dalaw nen Kristo” and “Stations of the Cross.” The Holy Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Francis Lucas Posadas, Epiphany of the Lord Parish Priest.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and First Lady Priscilla I. Espino will lead the entire provincial government family and visitors in a mutual prayer of meditation in the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Locations of the 14 Stations include: 1. – Between Capitol Resort Hotel / Side of the Provincial Library; 2. – Sison Auditorium; 3. – Front of the Regional Trial Court; 4.  – Civil Service Commission (corner); 5. - Urduja Gate; 6. – ENRO, OPAg; 7. – Provincial Information Office, Capitol bldg; 8. – Motorpool Gate; 9. –TESDA, Malong bldg; 10. – United Eway building; 11. - Governor’s Park Center; 12. – Governor’s Park (LTO); 13. – Kalantiao bldg; and 14. – Finance bldg.

“I want to help Pangasinenses” - Mark



BAYAMBANG – Although an heir of a tycoon where he and his descendants need not work anymore for a living, former congressman Marcos Bruno “Mark” Cojuangco said he wants to help Pangasinenses and as an alternative for the governorship race.
Marcos Bruno "Mark" Cojuangco
“Who is Mark Cojuangco? Why he wants to run for the governorship? I’m an heir of a rich man and my grandchildren and their grandchildren do not have to work because of the tremendous wealth we are going to inherit. As I grow old I want to help the people of Pangasinan, “declared recently here by Cojuangco before the thousands of participants in the Farmers’ Day celebration.
Cojuangco is the scion of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco who once headed and catapulted the food, power, and beverage San Miguel Corporation  as the top multi-billion of pesos business conglomerate in the country and in South East Asia.

Former Chiefs of Police Join Shooting Tilt

DAGUPAN CITY–The Bangus Festival Top Cop Challenge on April 5 and 6 served as a homecoming for some of the former chiefs of police of Dagupan City who joined the competition together with Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and other city officials at the Dagupan Practical Shooting Association (DPSA) firing range in Bonuan.
GENERAL AND MEDIA MEN - Police two-star General  Manuel Barcena recently rekindled and renewed old ties with media practitioners of Pangasinan in a luncheon at the seafood restaurant Silverios in the city.  Barcena, a PMA class 1981 classmate of Chief PNP Allan Purisima, was in Dagupan  to attend the homecoming for the Top Chief of Police (COP) challenge shooting competition with former police chiefs of the city as one of the draws in the month long Bangus Festival. According to Dagupan COP Supt. Chris Abrahano those who responded to the invitation were Police Director Barcena; Police Chief Superintendent Noli G. Taliño, Deputy Director, Special Action Force; Police Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo Jr. (retired); Police Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis M. Verzosa Jr. (retired); Police Superintendent Ditz Quijardo (retired); and Police Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr. 
Dagupan City Chief of Police P/Supt. Christopher N. Abrahano said the shooting competition did not only enhance the shooting prowess of the PNP officers but became an avenue for a get-together of all former COPs of the city.
“Schools and universities have their own alumni homecoming. We asked ourselves, why not have our own homecoming too for former chiefs of police? We came up with the Dagupan City Top Cop Challenge and what a better way to start the Bangus Festival than with a big bang. This event will also renew the ties of our past COPs, reconnect and rekindle acquaintances,” said Abrahano.
Past COPs who responded to the invitation were Police Director Manuel Barcena; Police Chief Superintendent Noli G. Taliño, Deputy Director, Special Action Force; Police Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo Jr. (retired); Police Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis M. Verzosa Jr. (retired); Police Superintendent Ditz Quijardo (retired); and Police Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Bong Bong Marcos nixes presidential bid

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

In the whistle stop recently of Senator Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos, Jr in the towns and city of Pangasinan before he proceeded to his final stop in Bayambang as guest of the robust town’s bid for the longest barbecue grill in the Guinness Book of World Record, I posed to him if he intends to run either for the presidential or vice presidential derby in 2016.
BONG BONG'S WHISTLE STOP -   Mangaldan Mayor Bonafe
 de Vera-Parayno (2
nd from left) welcomes Senator Ferdinand
“Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr. in front of the town hall when
the latter made a stop over in April 4 to donate a green multi
cab (background) for Brgy. Embarcadero of the municipality.
After a pep talked with town officials, Marcos proceeded to
 Bayambang town to witness the town’s longest  barbecue grill
bid for the Guinness Book of World Record. He visited too the
towns of Manaoag, San Jacinto, and Lingayen, and the city of
 Urdaneta.
“Ha, ha, ha I don’t know! Wala pa! Masyado pang maaga para disisyunan iyan. Pagbigyan muna natin ang takbo ng pulitika eh alam natin mabilis ang pagbago dito sa atin sa Pilipinas kaya siguro marami pa namang trabaho na kailangan gawin bago pag-isipin muna iyan,” he retorted.
 ***
Was Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar telling the truth when he exposed to the media that Metro Rail Transit (MRT) general manager Al Vitangcol and Pangasinense Wilson de Vera attempt to mulct Inekon CEO and chair Josef Husek  U.S $30 million (P1.35 billion) so Inekon wins the bidding for 48 MRT coaches?
News reports say that each of the wagons that would be supplied by Inekon costs U.S $3.3 million.
Since Czech company Inekon Group did not participate in the bidding,  Chinese company CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock, that won the bid, will supply the  48 coaches for the wagons strapped MRT that will cost the government US $1.8 million only for each of the wagon.
U.S $3 million versus U.S $1.8 million, son of a gun, it shows that China coaches are advantageous to the Philippine government.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Food safety training for Pistay Dayat food stalls holders held



            LINGAYEN---In an effort to safeguard the public from food contamination, the Provincial Tourism Office conducted a one-day seminar on Food Safety and Customer Service with 105 participants which was held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center here.

            Malou Elduayan, tourism chief, said the seminar was designed to help the food vendors acquire knowledge on proper food handling for the safety of the visiting public during the Pangasinan’s Pistay Dayat month-long celebration which runs from April 11 to May 15.
           
            Likewise, the seminar aims to provide the best food handling practices based on existing laws on food safety which include the food handling and preparation, health and hygiene, hand washing, storage, equipment, among others.

            With this, Elduayan urged the participants to observe the best food handling practices to keep the public from food-borne illnesses caused by food contamination.

            Among the major food-borne diseases considered health-hazards are: salmonellous, hepatitis A, E.Coli, and staphylococcal intoxication.    

            The one-day seminar covered  lectures on food safety, food sanitation, food hygiene, price regulation and customer service.

Mangaldan wins best float award with Lingayen contingent as best street dancers



LINGAYEN— Mangaldan town grabbed this year’s grand prize for the float-design competition with its carabao design inspired by the town’s main product, the famous “Pindang” (thin slices of dried and cured carabao meat).  
            Besting more than 30 floats, Mangaldan won a cash prize  of P100, 000 alongside with the Lingayen street dancers who romped off  with P100, 000 for being the street dancing champions among 22 groups that competed.
The competition was held during the Parada na Dayew Float Parade and Street Dance Competitions held on the 434thanniversary celebration of Pangasinan day last April 5 at the Capitol Beachfront.
Mangaldan is famous for its sweet tasting dried carabao meat.
            The Parada na Dayew Grand Cultural Parade proved to be a best selling event during the Agew na Pangasinan, drawing a huge crowd close to  20,000 onlookers.
            The float parade and dance competition were among the main attractions of the province’s commemoration of the province’s birth date.
            Spectators and revelers including the 7, 000 participants to the Grand Cultural Parade were unmindful of the scorching heat as floats and street dancing filled the roads with fun and excitement from the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center through the main raods leading to the Capitol Beachfront where everyone converged for the street dance competition.
            To the amazement of everyone, the crowd stayed until all the street dancers finished their exciting and some breath-taking tricks.

Pangasinan’s ASNA awardees 2014

  Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., (2nd from left) and Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (2nd from right) flash the number one sign with the outstanding Pangasinenses during the ASNA Awards Night and Grand Ball at the Sison Auditorium during the commemoration of the 434th founding day of Pangasinan last April 5.  Feted for 2014 are (from 3rd to 9thfrom left): Ronald Costales for organic agriculture Development; Marrietta-Primicias Goco, community development;  J. Prospero De Vera III, education; Cesar Quiambao, business; Pocholo Mallilin, performing arts; Gonzalo Duque, public service-promotion of arts and culture; and Antonio Villar, public service.  Joining the Governor are ASNA Awards Committee Head Arabella Arcinue (extreme left), and Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan (extreme right).

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Pre-Fight Analysis: Pacquiao vs. Bradley II



By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

The following have been my analysis I prepared for GMA-7 TV and Bombo Radyo - Dagupan City and Koronadal days before the Pacquiao versus Bradley rematch in April 13.

Background
The problem with Timothy Ray Bradley, Jr. in his controversial split decision win against Philippine Bible waving and quoting  Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao was “he punched like a bitch” -- to rephrase  stuttering Coach Freddie Roach just after he was hammered kick on the chest by erstwhile colleague Alex Ariza in Macau, China.

What should Bradley do to win the fight against Manny  this weekend?
1.            He should  not punch like a bitch but punch big time  Pacquiao like a beast  just like what Juan Manuel Marquez had done to Manny on their 3rd and 4th outings. I just hope that by minting the hands of the Palm Spring, California native, Tim strength coach could be at the class of Angel “Memo” Heredia (Marquez's conditioning coach) who prepares him for the coup d’ grace (lethal blow, idiot!) against the Filipino.
2.            Tim should not content himself with jabs, ducks, and cat-and-mouse. He should remember that even four of his jabs or pitter-patter lead left punch landed at Manny's shoulder or face they are no match to a single but jarring blow from Manny that the judges in Las Vegas will favor.
3.            He should emulate how Floyd Mayweather, Jr. exposed and exploited with gusto with power punches the loopholes in the defenses of  Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez.
4.            Tim should imitate Juan Manuel by peppering Manny with 1-2 or 1-2-3 hard counter punches and sliding clockwise to negate the killer left retaliatory punch of Manny.
5.            Whenever Manny turtles shell his head with gloves, Tim hits him with uppercuts on the chin by exploiting the yawning gap between the Filipino Superman(except Superman's handsome face) elbows.
6.            Tim ties Manny as he sneaked some punches on the sides of his torso just like what he did in Round 10 of their 2012 match.
7.            When he ducks Manny’s flurry of punches, he should see to it that he hits the Filipino with some staggering counter-blows and not just impresses everyone with his eel- liked slippery from Manny’s punches. Elusiveness does not win fights, its punches that win fight. 

Background
Of all the marquee opponents that clashed with Manny Pacquiao, Tim Bradley has been a tough customer to crack. Why? He was liked an eel that Manny has been frantically missing to hit big time in their 2012 outing.


VIDEO ANALYSIS: PACQUIAO VS. BRADLEY
Every time Manny threw his right jab or right lead, Tim, in a side way position, ducks ala Floyd Mayweather at the left side of Pacquiao thus neutralizing Manny’s money left killer straight and hook that just flew above the back of the 30 years old Palm Spring, California native.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Buy Filipino First – Cayetano


By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

DAGUPAN CITY – A Philippine senator wants Filipinos to patronize locally made products by appealing to the rich and famous to promote the slogan “Buy Filipino First” .
CAYETANO AIDED DRIVERS AND OPERATORS  -- Senator
 Alan Peter Cayetano recently turned over funds to the San
 Carlinians Tricycle Drivers and Operators Federation inside the
 office  San Carlos City, Pangasinan Mayor Julier Resuello which
will be used to bankroll a micro financing program that will offer small
 loans to members at very low interest and easy payment schemes.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano narrated about the leather Valentino shoes he sported when he attended social functions and his duties at the August Chamber.
“When I attended our 25th class reunion some friends thought I wore a Topsider that costs P18,500. But the pair I sported was made in Marikina (shoe producing capital of the Philippines) that cost between P800 to P2, 500,” he stressed.
Cayetano, who declared in March 6 his moist eye as an alternative candidate for the presidency, cited that in the 1990s Marikina had 100,000 shoe workers. In year 2006 it declined to P40,000, and last year it plunged to 6,000 workers.
Cayetano assailed the Filipinos’ mentality to buy imported instead of the locally made products that are not only cheaper but competitive in quality than the foreign brand rivals.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

PMA vs PNPA

By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

President Benigno Aquino III promised to look into complaints of alumni of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) that they continue to be discriminated in the promotions and assignments in the Philippine National Police compared with graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy
Presently, there are only three PNPA graduates—all belonging to PNPA Class 1983—with the rank of chief superintendent, a star-rank position equivalent to brigadier general in the military.
On the other hand, about 150 members of PMA classes 1981 to 1984 are holding the rank of chief superintendent or higher.
“If you look at the police organization, the PMA alumni are the minority in the PNP while the PNPA graduates belong to the majority. But in terms of position, PMAyers hold the highest positions in the PNP,” Rosendo Dial, PNPA Alumni Association Inc. chair, lamented to newsmen.
***
Although I did not see nowadays favoritism by a higher ranking PMAyer to a subordinate PMAyer at the Police Provincial Office (PPO) in Lingayen, Pangasinan that I used to frequent after I became friends with some top brass there, I did see however an instance of this cliché practice before.
It was the positioning of some police superintendents (Lt. Colonel in the military) for the post of the chief of police of the “lucrative” city police station in Dagupan where the three lobbyists came from the PMA (one) and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) (two).
I asked the PMAyer that the shoo-in for the post, according to news men, would be the relative of the mayor and the endorsee of the powerful sect Iglesia ni Cristo.
He told me that I prepare my bet of P100 versus the P1 of this PNPA alumnus friend and expect a slum dunk in my wager.
“Alam mo pare, dito sa Pangasinan ang pinaka prestigious na position dito ay PD (provincial director), chief of police of Dagupan City, and intelligence chief ng PPO. Hindi naman ako puweding pabayaan ni PD (a PMAyer) dahil dalawa na lang kaming PMAyer dito”.
To make the long story short, he became the chief of police while nobody challenged my P100 versus the P1 in favor of the PNPA graduate.
***
I just learned that one reason why PMA alumni scoff at PNPA graduates, except probably PNPA alumni 2004 upward, the latter just attended the Academy for two years after they earned certain units in college.
PMA graduates, according to a general, are molded in military tradition for four years where they grow up there with hazing, seniority, a fear of the Horror, er, Honor Code, and other regimental Spartan education.
Cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy

Bayambang captures Guinness for longest barbecue grill


BAYAMBANG— What better way to celebrate a town's 400th founding year than by making another history?


This third district town Bayambang, has made another history as it triumphed in its attempt to get the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for longest barbecue grill.

Last April 4, the historic town through its Kalutan ed Dalan- the main event of its Malangsi Fishtival (freshwater fish festival) and the 434th Agew na Pangasinan (Pangasinan Day) toppled the previous longest grill 6.166-kilometer record set by Turkey in 2009.

"This will be a historical moment now for Bayambang, because I have the honor to announce a new record holder for longest barbecue grill with exactly 8.016 kilometers," thus announced event's official adjudicator from the Guinness in United Kingdom, Seyda Subasi, shortly after the three-hour grill.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Most Wanted Hired Killer Arrested in P’sinan - Blanco


By Mortz C. Ortigoza


LINGAYEN – The acting provincial director of the police provincial office (PPO) of Pangasinan disclosed that a suspected hired killer in Abra and most wanted criminal in Pangasinan was arrested lately by the elements of policemen from Malasiqui, Pangasinan.
Malasiqui Police Chief Supt. Armando Muena
“It was a suspenseful sight before he was arrested as he engaged the police in a running gun battle in the rice paddy,” Senior Supt. Sterling Raymond Blanco told Northern Watch.
According to the spot and progress reports furnished to this paper by the office of Supt. Armando F. Muena, chief of police of Malasiqui, it says that Cesar S. Betonio, 31, of Barangay Villa Concreta Manabo, Abra was arrested at Brgy. Asin East in poblacion area by virtue of alias warrant of arrest dated August 6, 2013 issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel F. Pastor of Branch 50 Villasis, Pangasinan for murder with no bail recommended.
After the gun battle with lawmen one can only see on movies,   Blanco said Betonio was cornered and apprehended at about 11:45 of March 28. Confiscated from his possession was a caliber 45 pistol with trademarked Norinco bearing serial number 202432 with one magazine assembly. Other items seized from him were one shoulder bag that contain 30 live ammunition of caliber 22, six live bullets for caliber 45, one live ammunition of caliber 9mm, two plastic sachet containing crystalline granules suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), one inside holster, three lighters, several plastic containers believed to be used for repacking of shabu, one wig, one brown t-shirt and one stainless scissor.
Blanco said he was informed that the killer who wore a wig as camouflage in his nefarious trade was suspected to have murdered a couple in Villasis.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Pangasinan: chosen Champion in protecting the carabao



LINGAYEN—For regulating the sale and slaughter of female carabaos (riverine buffaloes and crossbreds), Pangasinan was granted by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) a plaque of recognition for its efforts to prevent the depletion of the carabao.
            The LGU-Partner Champion award was presented last March 27 at the PCC  National Gene Pool and Headquarters in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.       
            Board Member Raul Sison, author of Provincial Ordinance No. 170-2013 signed into law by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. last March 2013, received the plaque and presented it during today’s flag-raising rites.
            The ordinance which prevents the depletion of carabaos in the province, especially those that are breedable, included a buy-back scheme where carabao owners are encouraged to sell their carabaos to either the provincial government or the local government units which will, in turn, distribute them as additional stocks to dairy cooperatives in the province to boost livestock and dairy production.
            PCC Officer-In-Charge Felomino V. Mamuad said the passing and implementation of PO 170-2013 strongly demonstrated unequivocal support to the upgrading of carabaos and development of the carabao-based enterprises spearheaded by the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Veterinary in cooperation with the PCC based at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University.

LETTER: PAL Hits by Pinoy-Brit


Dear Mortz,

Good morning from sunny London.
The main purpose of my letter to you is to ventilate my frustration on how the Philippines Airline messed up our (four passengers)international and domestic connection flight schedule on the 5th and 6th of April 2014, respectively.

I bookedfrom our travel agent based in the United Kingdom our London to Manila flight and received a confirmation electronic ticket record on the 14th of October 2013.
The flight details are;
Departure from London Heathrow Airport:  17:15
Arrival to Manila Ninoy Aquino (Centennial) Terminal 2:  13:50
On the 15th of November 2013, I received an itinerary confirmation for the domestic flight that I booked directly from the PAL for four of us. I have booked all our domestic flights from PAL due to the convenience of few legs of our travel since we are using PAL on our international flight.
Departure from Manila Terminal 3: 18:30
Arrival to Puerto Princesa: 19:50
Literally, we have four hours and 40 minutes of dilly dally at the vicinity of PAL airport.
But, unfortunately due to “operation requirement” PAL had changed our international flight and domestic flight hour that lead us with 1.35 minutes to connect our domestic flight.
SORRY COUPLE: Hazel and hubby.
This international flight changes has been relayed to me by my agent in Manila in the afternoon of 30th of March as I came from a honeymoon.
I freaked out knowing that both our flight schedules will be affected. I called back our travel agent but, she informed me that they cannot help me because it was the airline itself that changed the schedule.
I then called the 24 hours. Customer Service of PAL, but to no avail their line was dead.
The following day which was bloody Monday for me because I had my company and clients month end and year-end financial reporting.  I was on the phone for an hour just trying to reach and talk sensibly to the customer service to sort out what was the best option for us since they messed up our schedule. Note: my long distance call was more costly than my domestic flight and I was wasting my company resources.