SM Paw Park, a PAW-some place to shower furry friends with love

 Looking for a PAW-some place to make happy memories with your beloved fur baby? Paw Park at the SM City Urdaneta Central in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan is the perfect place to go.

True to its tagline: “We got it all for you”, SM proves that shoppers can find everything they need and love in the mall as it re-opened recently its indoor Paw Park now located at the Level 3 of SM City Urdaneta Central.

 It is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fur parents can now take their dogs to a fun and active playdate as the park features obstacle courses and agility training equipment, where pets can learn tricks, do exercises or simply socialize with other dogs.

These obstacles include Double Hoop Jump, Adjustable Tire Jump, Tube Tunnel, Agility See Saw, Weave Poles, A-Frame, and Dog Walk Ramp. Enjoying the park is absolutely free but with a simple online registration to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both pets and owners. Just scan the QR code and register.

 For everyone’s safety and comfort, Paw Park rules should be observed: 1. Owners should be fully responsible for their dog(s). 2. Dogs must be leashed when not inside the dog park. 3. Please open only one gate at a time. 4. Owners must immediately clean up after their own dogs both in and out of the dog park. 5. Dogs must be at least 4 months of age and be up to date with all vaccinations. 6. Dogs that are aggressive, disruptive, in heat, or ill are not allowed. 7. Customers within LGU’s age restrictions are not allowed to enter the park. 8. Maximum of two (2) dogs per adult. 9. Limited to 13 people at a time inside the park. 10. Equipment in dog park is for dogs only. Please do not let your children climb on the obstacles. 11. Food, drinks, glass containers are not permitted inside the dog park. 12. While you can bring your own dog treats and toys, make sure that no other dogs will be competing for them. 13. Private dog training and other commercial activities without management approval are not allowed. 14. Any person bringing dogs into this park assumes the legal responsibility, jointly and individually, with the owner of the dog(s) for any damage, disease, or injury to persons, other dogs or property, caused by the dog(s). 15. SM management reserves the right to refuse entry to any dog that presents any risk to other humans and dogs. 16. The park may close without prior notice due to weather, maintenance, special events, or when deemed necessary. The SM Supermalls continues to create a pet-friendly place for dog owners and their families to safely walk their pets and at the same time, dine, shop and play. It is also a testament of SM’s continued commitment to keep bringing new, exciting, and safe offerings to its community in the new normal. You can also visit Paw Park at SM City Rosales located at the ground floor near Mall Atrium and at SM Center Dagupan’s ground floor beside McDonald’s. Make everyday a play day with your fur babies. Don’t leave them at home. Come visit SM City Urdaneta Central and take them at the Paw Park for a fun day out full of great fun adventures and shower your furry friends with the love they deserve.

Lousy Gun Laws

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

My California based younger sister Sadie sent a YouTube's video link to the family’s chat group:

Switzerland: So Many Guns, No Mass Shootings.

It’s an American TV show’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah digs how Yanks and their school children have been mowed to death by, susmariosep, 1,900 of mass shooting incidents since 2012.

Photo credit: Hindustan Times

A Swiss gun expert in this video blamed the liberality of the Americans to own guns. He cited:

- Anybody can buy at the stores like Walmart

- Borrow guns from parents, siblings, and others

- Own a gun immediately without background check if one is a convicted criminal and others (insane or one with lucid interval – Mortz)

The same gun expert told The Daily Show that the ALMOST ZERO gun incident in Switzerland (a mass shooting was reported in 2012 at the Swiss Parliament) is anchored to the following factors:

- Swiss people are disciplined when it comes to guns thanks to their mandatory military training

- Buyer of a gun is subjected to stringent background checks if they have been convicted criminally (or they are a nutcase like those many American grade school children’s killers – Mortz)

- Follow strictly the law that when the gun is not used it should be unloaded

- Swiss folks don’t bring guns in public like schools.

When the latest school children shooting in Texas where 19 innocent grade school kids died because of a cocky 18 years old used a semi-automatic assault rifle’s AR-15 (a scaled-down derivative of Eugene Stoner's ArmaLite AR-10 design) before being killed by law enforcers in a shoot-out, President Joe Biden said as seen on television: That this kind of incident (mass shooting) did not happen in countries outside America.

Damn, the Americans have been killing their children because of their loose gun laws.

Salamabit, with those 1,900 mass shooting incidents to the U.S of A - the land of milk and honey and the land of the brave – this hell-hole country’s Philippines looks like a safer tranquil place to live for our school children than the ordeals and anguish those Yanks face.

Power Play Between Guico and Espino Continues

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Upon discussing in my room how incoming Finance-Secretary Benjamin Diokno will prioritize the implementation of existing tax measures to hit a 7% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth yearly instead of the new tax laws to pay the staggering matter of concern’s P12.6 trillion debt of the government and the Philippines achieving the upper-middle-income status in 2023 as espoused recently by outgoing National Economic  Development Administration (NEDA) Karl Kendrick Chua, my eldest son Jigger posed to me: Pa’ ano ang NEDA ng city o bayan?

I told him “Planning and Development Coordinator (PDC)”

NEMESIS. Pangasinan Governor-elect Ramon "Monmon" Guico, III (left photo) and political nemesis former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Its duties and powers as provided by Section 476 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, the Bible of towns, cities, and provinces in the country, where I quoted some of them below:

-          Formulate integrated economic, social, physical, and other development plans and policies for consideration of the local government development council;

-            Conduct continuing studies, researches, and training programs necessary to evolve plans and programs for implementation;

-           Integrate and coordinate all sectoral plans and studies undertaken by the different functional groups or agencies;

“Parang hindi ko napapansin iyang Planning - masyadong low profile,” my son, who worked as consultant during the first mayoral stint of Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez, said.

I explained, as if I was still teaching political science in college decades ago, that unlike the Administrator, Agriculture, Treasurer, Information Officer, Assessor (damn, the most lucrative of em' all, hihi!) and others who are pursued by the media because of the brouhahas that these offices can enlighten if not answer them, the PDC works without fanfare in the corner.

“Indespensable iyan kasi diyan nakasalalay ang mga new sources of revenues ng local government unit sa kanyang recommendations sa office of the mayor and the eventual approval ng lawmaking body”.

***

In the press conference early this month in Lingayen called by Pangasinan Governor-elect Monmon Guico and his congressmen- elect’s allies’ 1^st District, 2^nd District, 5^th District, and Abono Party Representatives Art Celeste, Mark Cojuangco, Monching Guico, and Eskimo Estrella, respectively, they did not only rebut the election cheating yarns of their political nemesis ex-Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. but discussed their planned flagship projects like the new expressway that could reduce travel that snake vice-versa  in the 1^st and 5^th Districts, more export processing zones that could generate jobs, opening of the harbor in Sual, regional and international airports in Alaminos City and in San Carlos- Binmaley area, respectively, and others.

   All of these are laudable because they could buttress the lethargic economy of the mammoth backwaters province if one compared her to those in Central and Southern Luzon’s provinces that host special economic zones. But despite these visionary programs, many of these projects need the imprimatur of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (provincial lawmaking body).

The status of the head counts of the Dads that belong to the Opposition (Espino allies) comes noon of June 30 is the elephant in that room.

They are the eleven Board members (I said 10 before but the quick-draw gun enthusiast Dr. Karlo Orduna told me I overlooked the ex-officio from the Councilors’ League) versus the four allied Dads of Governor Guico.

Former Governor Espino for me will move heaven –and- earth to rally his allies in the August body to stonewall any of these projects that could make Guico and the congressmen more “guapo” in their reelection bid.

The battle scarred retired soldier and seasoned politico’s Espino should know that it will only take four of his BM allies (to make the equation eight for Guico and seven for himself) to desert him and caused him and his sons’ to be battered again in the 2025 election. Their defeat in those races will virtually weaken them and make them a political nobody in the 2028 election thus a prudent and intelligent handling of these solons are a must.

How to convince these four Dads (I saw one or two susceptible “Moms” there haha!) is a matter for Guico and his allies to formulate. How to make these eleven lawmakers stick till the next D-Day three years from now depends on the brinkmanship of the Espinos to persuade them not to fall on the attractive offers of the powers that be.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Greedy Member of the House of Representatives?

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

P53-M Bridges, Drainage Project in 3rd District - DPWH

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – Fifty-three million pesos (P53,000,000) projects composed of two concrete bridges and a drainage system in  Sta. Barbara and Calasiao will all be finished this year.

According to 4th District Engineering Office District Engineer Simplicio D. Gonzales of the Department of Public Works & Highway, the concrete bridge in Barangay Gabon, Calasiao has already been done while the one in Barangay Leet, Sta. Barbara will be done in December this year.

“Oo meron. Iyong Gabon namin tapos na. Dito sa Santa Barbara sa Leet papasok iyan siguro matatapos ngayong December. Nasa P35 million lahat”.

4th District Engineering Office District Engineer Simplicio D. Gonzales of the Department of Public Works & Highway

He said that the perennial flooding at poblacion area in Calasiao will be over by the construction of the drainage system on June this year. Gonzales said the DPWH done a careful mapping how the drainage function efficiently on the stretch from the poblacion going to the Parongking River.

The project cost the national government P18 million.

“Iyong probema ma solve na. Ginawan ko ng survey para iyong daanan ng tubig ay siguradong tatakbo kasi bakawan hindi kayanin e mahaba malayo. Ngayon malapit na,” the District Engineer told this writer.

Gonzales said the new drainage canal in the burgeoning town will mitigate the flood around the periphery of the Bureau of Internal Revenue particularly after its widening and deep excavation have been done by the contractor.

The reason why the area was flooded every time there was downpour because flood in Dagupan City compete with the egress of water in Calasiao going to the Ramos Bridge where the Banaoang River passes.

It resulted for the water there to be stuck that resulted to the flood in the vicinities, he explained.

Despite the construction of the new water canal last year from the BIR to the Ramos Bridge, the DPWH funded an P18 million drainage system that would exit to the Parongking River.

“Doon pumupunta sa Ramos ginawa naming dalawang exits papuntang Parongking P18 million approved last year”.

D.E Gonzales said there is a gate on the mouth of the exit of the drainage in the Ramos Bridge where barangay officials can close it when the water swell in the Banaoang River.

Its closure means water from the river will no longer flow to the poblacion area in Calasiao town.

Gastronomic Delight at Jeprox’s Dagupan City

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Although it is a homegrown nascent restaurant in Dagupan City, Jeprox’s various mouth watering dishes of poultry pork, beef, and sea foods have been zealously feasted by people in and out of the coastal city.

PHOTOS starting from the top and clockwise: (From L-to-R  Local P.R Man Jojo Jet Tamayo, What’s Up Dagupan Blogger Simon Francis Blaise R. Vistro, Jeprox Manager Jersyd Tatala alias Carlo Aquino, and Northern Watch Editor-in-Chief Mortz C. Ortigoza. Photo - 3 bares Dagupan City Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez and party patronizing the sumptuous foods of Jeprox.

Jeprox Manager Jersyd Tatala told Northern Watch Newspaper that they used to cater to people in their original food house located near the boundary of Dagupan and Binmaley town. When the business burgeoned they transferred to the more strategic place at the old De Venecia Highway in Lucao, Dagupan City.

“Customers can sometimes be seen queuing because the tables here are occupied,” Tatala quipped to this writer.

He just smiles when told that it is time for the food house to put another branch to accommodate the swelling number of their patrons.

P5-B Tax Target for BIR-Central P'nan

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The chief of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in central Pangasinan and his staff brace to collect about five billion pesos (P5, 000,000, 000) for the financial needs of the national government.

Revenue District Office No. 4 Chief Gil Vinluan said that the national office gave him early this year P4.9 billion to chalk-up from January to December in the fourteen towns and two cities’ central province.

“Ngayon is P4.9 billion about P5 billion”.

Revenue District Office No. 4 Chief Gil Vinluan

RDO No. 4 collected P4.3 billion last year.

He said that in the first three months of this year he was short in his collection because he only eclipsed the last year’s March target with the same month's this year.

Comparison used by the tax office if it is efficient on its collection is by pitting the particular months of this year versus the same months last year.

“Malaki, honestly we can recover this April kasi filing season na e,” he said about the deadline of the Annual Income Tax Return on the same month.

With the appraisers and assessors already ready with the revision of the national zonal valuation in his area, Vinluan can implement it in the second semester of this year.

“Oo, additional source of revenue”.

One of the sources of the BIR in creation of funds for the government is through the Capital Gain Tax (CGT).

CGT from the sale of real property located in the country classified as capital assets by individuals are subject to a tax of six (6) percent based on gross selling price or the current fair market value, whichever is higher at the time of sale.

The highest price of per square meter (PSM) of land under the towns and cities of RDO No. 4 is in Dagupan City.

The highest is Fifty-Five Thousand Pesos (P55,000) per square meter that can be found in Barangay -1 in Dagupan City,” former RDO No.4 Chief Ernesto Mangabat told this writer last year.

He cited that the other PSM with zonal valuation prices of P35,000, P32,000, and P30,000 can be found in Rizal, Fernandez, and Rizal Extension Streets, respectively.

Mangabat said lands in the premier Dagupan City are expensive compared to other provinces like Ilocos Sur.

“Dagupan is Dagupan,” he quipped.

 

 

Paano ngayon mga Taksil, Nakabalik sa Mun. si Mayor?

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Madaming mga first term and second term mayors ang natalo nitong nakaraang May 9, 2022 eleksyon. 

Hindi ako bilib sa kanila – paano kayo natalo hawak ninyo ang kaban ng munisipyo?

Nandiyan ang kapangyarihan ninyong mangupit o tumangap ng cut o S.O.P sa mga contractors at suppliers para makapagkamal kayo ng salapi na pamigay ninyo sa mga constituents ninyo na pumupunta sa bahay at opisina ninyo. Nandiyan na ang allocated budget ng Sangguniang Bayan o Panlungsod (legislature) na milyon-milyon sa social services na hawak ng social welfare chief ninyo pang ayuda ninyo sa mga nasasakupan ninyo. Paano pa kayo matatalo sa ingratiation game ng kalaban ninyong private citizen na gumagamit ng sariling pera niya panustustos sa mga botante para manalo siya sa inyo?

Iyong ibang natalo alam naman nating maraming datung galing sa nakaw pero ang ugali hindi makain ng aso kaya kahit malaki ang presyo ng vote buying sinusuka pa rin sila ng mga mamamayan sa bayan nila.

Photo credit: Dailytrust

Ang malungkot iyong mga mayors na natalo noong May 13, 2019 election ay sobrang inapi. Iba dito humahagulhol sa sama ng loob. Mantakin ninyo naman natalo na nga sila iyong mga hinayupak na mga department heads sa kalagit-naan pa lang ng transition - kung saan ang natalo noong May ay may hanggang June 30 pa sa puwesto – ay kanya-kanyang pasipsip na sa bagong alkalde.

Ang masakit pinagsisiraan at pinagkakanulo iyong mga natalong mayor at pinaka-masakit mismong iyong pinagkakatiwalaan ng isang alkalde pinagkukuwento kung paano nila ninanakawan ang bayan thru S.O.P galing sa contractor at suppliers.

Ansakit talaga Kuya Eddie!

Naala-ala ko tuloy ang pelikulang General’s Daughter kung saan si Lieutenant General Joseph Campbell (actor James Cromwell) ay tinanong ng anak niyang si Army Captain Elisabeth Campbell (actress Leslie Stefanson) kung ano ang mas masahol pa sa rape.

Tanong ng ama, “ano?”

Ani ng dalagang militar na anak niyang maganda: Betrayal Daddy, betrayal!

 Si Elisabeth Campbell ay ni rape ng mga upperclassmen o senior niya sa United States Military Academy sa West Point, New York noong nag –field training exercise (FTX) sila. Nakilala iyong mga rapist at mga bumugbog sa kanya kung saan iyong isa ay nasalinan pa siya ng venereal disease. Pero ang U. S Military ayaw mapahiya ang West Point kaya ito’y nag offer ng quid pro quo kay two-star o Major General Campbel: Dagdag na star para maging Lieutenant General ka pero iurong ang demanda kontra sa mga Kadete ng West Point.

Pumayag si General pero pumalag at nagpakamatay naman ang anak niyang psywar expert na Kapitan.

***

Ngayong itong mga alkalde na natalo noong 2019 ay nanalo noong nakaraang May 9, 2022 poll, paano na lang itong mga naninira sa kanila na mga department heads at rank-and-file workers sa tatlong taon term noong mga natalo ngayon?

We can expect here na many of them ay mag ala Philippine Navy. Ibig sabihin floating ang mga hinayupaks (nagsusueldo pero dedma ni bagong mayor dahil may sariling tao siya na kukunin), iyong mga lower level na sipsip sigurado tapon sa mabahong palengke at makikita na lang natin na nagwawalis sila doon na parang Metro Aide ni Imelda Marcos, iyong iba naman itatapon doon sa sementeryo, basurahan, slaughter house (mag-papala ng ta-e ng baka at baboy hahaha - anak ng bakang dalaga - na nagbawas habang kinakatay), at iba pa.

Advice ko: Kayong mga linta sa incumbent mayor alalay lang at huwag masyadong mayabang. Iyang alkalde ninyong nanalo ngayon baka sa May 2025 eleksiyon matatalo iyan at alam ninyo na ang consequence sa mga sopsop, este sipsip na tulad ninyo.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Less Moneyed Mayorship Bet uses Bluff to Win Election

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.

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23 Newly Elected Mayors in P’nan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The May 9, 2022 general election in the Philippines saw twenty-three newly elected mayors in the forty - four towns and four cities’ Pangasinan.

These newly minted chief executives are exiting congressman, former mayor, vice mayor, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislature) and Sangguniang Bayan (town legislature), spouses, parent, son, and siblings of the exiting mayor.

NEW HIZZONERS. Some of the nineteen newly elected mayors of the colossal province’s Pangasinan. From L-to-R and clockwise: Bayambang Mayor-elect Niña Jose-Quiambao, Manaoag Mayor-elect Doc Ming Rosario, Calasiao Mayor-elect Maya Caramat, and Mangaldan Mayor-elect Bona Parayno.

According to the unofficial but 100% tabulation of Halalan 2022 of ABS-CBN the following towns and city with new chief executives are:

1) Aguilar: Mayor-elect Kristal Soriano (API) got 13,399 votes and defeated Vil Sagles (NUP) in a competitive race – Sagles is the wife of the sitting but exiting mayor - who settled with 12,143 votes.

2) Bani: Mayor-elect Boying Palofox (NP) garnered 15,582 votes and trounced JP Navarro (API) who got 9,015 votes. Palofox’s daughter Gwen – the incumbent almost nine years’ mayor slide-down to the vice mayoralty. She won too the electoral derby.

3) Bautista. Mayor-elect Joseph Espino (API) with 11,586 votes trounced Eduardo Ong (NPC) who got 11, 435 votes.

4) Bayambang: Mayor-elect Niña Jose-Quiambao (NP) who got 41,685 votes and routed former Mayor Ric Camacho who settled with 27,373 votes. The Mayor-elect spouse is the incumbent billionaire- mayor who is considered the Who’s and Who of Pangasinan’s politics.

5) Binalonan: Mayor –elect Ramon Ronald Guico, IV (LAKAS) got 20,081 votes and defeated his first cousin Ryan Gotoc (API) who got 9,213 votes. Guico’s father and older brother are 5th District Congressman-elect Monching Guico and Governor –elect Monmon Guico.

6) Binmaley: Mayor-elect Pedro Merrera (PPM) garnered 24,379 votes against Jonas Rosario (PDP-LBN) – the son of the exiting mayor – who got 18,658 votes.

7) Burgos: Mayor-elect Allan Valenzuela (API) with 5,991 votes where he decked out Ronald Ngawan (NP) who got 5,606 votes.

8) Calasiao: Mayor –elect Mamilyn Caramat (NP) –spouse of a police-general – garnered 29,735 votes against incumbent Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon (API) who settled with 27,630 votes.

 NEW MAYORS. From left-to-right clockwise: San Fabian Mayor-elect Marlyn Agbayani, Binmaley Mayor-elect Pete Merrera, Labrador Mayor-elect Ernesto Acain, Dagupan City Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez, and Bani Mayor-elect Boying Palafox.

8) 9) Dasol: Mayor-elect Sadong Bernal (NP) – an exiting vice mayor – garnered 11,223 votes against incumbent Mayor Noel Nacar who got 8,682 votes. Nacar’s spouse is the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

10) Labrador: Mayor-elect Ernesto Acain (NUP) – a former mayor – got 8,571 votes and trounced incumbent Mayor Domy Arenas (API) who settled with 7,550 votes. Arenas during the election campaign made news when he defected from the camp of Governor Espino to the camp of 2nd District Cong. –elect Mark Cojuangco.

1 1 ) Mabini: Mayor-elect Colin Reyes (NP) with 7,552 Votes and defeated Ariel de Guzman (API) who settled for 7,525 votes.

12) Manaoag: Mayor –elect Ming Rosario (API) – an exiting seasoned Board Member and a Surgeon – garnered 16,117 votes against exiting Vice Mayor Domy Ching (PROMDI) who settled with 15,961 votes

13) Mangaldan: Mayor –elect Bona D. Parayno (PDPLBN) – a former six year’s mayor of the first class town – got 28,466 votes against incumbent and exiting Mayor Marilyn Lambino (LAKAS) was routed by the much popular Bona Parayno. Lambino - wife of Secretary Raul Lambino and mother of Vice Governor Mark Lambino - settled with 18,276 votes.

14) Mapandan: Karl Christian Vega (API) decked out with 13,580 votes incumbent and exiting Mayor Dooy Penuliar (NPC) who settled with 8,956 votes.

15) Pozorrubio. Mayor-elect Kelvin Chan (LAKAS) got 25,402 votes and defeated Freddie Villanueva (API) who got 16, 133 votes.

16) Rosales: Mayor –elect Liam Cezar (NPC) got 19,555 votes against Patrick Revita (API) – a son of a three –term mayor - who contented himself with 14,700 votes.

17) San Fabian: Mayor-elect Marlyn Agbayani (API) – wife of the incumbent Mayor Danny Agbayani – who got 22,336 votes routed Board Member Riby Villegas (NP) who contented himself with 15,419 votes.

18) San Quintin. Mayor elect Florence Tiu (NP) with 9, 601 votes dislodged Nerio Ignacio (KBL) who got 9.162 votes.

19) Santa Barbara: Mayor-elect Carlito Zaplan(API) – a former long reigning mayor of the burgeoning town – who garnered 26,156 votes by dislodging incumbent Mayor Joel delos Santos (NPC) who settled with 22,180 votes.

20) Sto. Tomas: Mayor-elect Dickerson Villar (API) – an Engineer- who got 5,063 votes against Nela Marinas (LAKAS) who settled with 2,790 votes.

21) Tayug: Mayor-elect Tyrone Agabas (NPC) – an incumbent Congressman of the Pangasinan 6th District and a Lawyer - got 16,060 votes versus incumbent Mayor Carlos Trece Mapili (IND) who was routed with 8,975 votes.

22) Urbiztondo: Mayor-elect Moding Operania (API) – a long protégée of Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, III and his namesake and father - got 18,971 votes by dislodging incumbent Mayor Martin Sison (NPC) – the son of the Espinos’ political nemesis former congressional bet Raul – who settled with 14,821. Sison’s mother Vice Mayor Marilyn Sison was ousted too by Volter Balolong – the son of assassinated Urbiztondo Mayor Ernesto Balolong.

23) Dagupan City: Mayor-elect Belen Fernandez (AKSYON) – a former six years’ mayor of the coastal city - garnered 67,499 votes in an acrimonious election campaign against incumbent Mayor Brian Lim (NP) who settled with 53,042 votes. The rivals’ family are owner of the chain-of- malls in the region.

SM-Urdaneta Expands to 3rd Floor as She Thrives vs. Other SMs

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA, Pangasinan – Among the three SM shopping malls in the gargantuan province’s Pangasinan, the SM Prime owned giant retail store here is more profitable than those in Rosales town and Dagupan City thus its expansion to third floor.

“It’s because of the location,” SM regional public relations manager Kristine Joy Santiago told this newspaper about the giant retail store being ensconced in the densely populated Urdaneta City and the burgeoning demography of the 5^th Congressional District that composed of eight towns and one city.

The new floor that opened to the public last Friday hosts the food court, wellness center, Our Home, Manila Bank, Philippine Statistics Authority, The Event Center, Blade, Paw Park, All About Baking, LBC, Photo Line, Xo, Huawei, Acer, Everything but Cheese, SM Snack Time, Serom Hair, and other commercial stalls.

Because of these new stores hosted by SM-Urdaneta Central more that 800 residents of the province have been employed.

SM Urdaneta Central Manager Abraham Malicdem told media men the construction of the third level was planned as early as 2018 but it was disrupted by the lethal pandemic’s Corona Virus Disease- 2019 (Covid-19).

Santiago cited this writer that the construction of the bigger SM in the province located at Barangay Tambac in Dagupan City will push through.

The proposed mall can be at par with SM City in Baguio City. The latter is the 23rd largest shopping mall in the Philippines. At a floor area of 176,073 m², it is the largest shopping mall in the North Luzon Region.

As of April 2022, SM Prime has 79 malls located across the country and 24 more scheduled to be opened for an eventual total of 106 malls. It also has seven malls in China, including SM Tianjin which is the second largest in the world in terms of gross leasable area. SM Supermalls has become one of the biggest mall operators in Southeast Asia. Combined, the company has about 9.24 million square meters of gross floor area (GFA). It has 17,230 tenants in the Philippines and 1,867 tenants in China.

Powerful Politico Explains How Aguila Defeated the Espinos

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – “The Eagle has landed,” exiting Bayambang Billionaire - Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao quipped in his opening statement to reporters the immortal phrase of American astronaut Neil Armstrong when it landed on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility his Apollo 11 lunar module named “Eagle.

The Eagle or Aguila in the vernacular is the acronym of the Alyansang Guico at Lambino for the governorship and vice governorship races of Pangasinan province participated by 5^th District Rep. Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III and Vice Gov. Mark Lambino, respectively.

POWERFUL POLITICIAN and Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambo (left, photo and clockwise), Pangasinan new Governor –Elect Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III, and exiting Pangasinan Governor Amado “Pogi” Espino, III. Guico trounces out Espino with a 187, 801 lead votes in the latest governorship derby. The former and the latter garnered 885,272 votes, 697, 465 votes, respectively. Espino’s father and namesake the former governor of the colossal province accused Quiambao of massive machination that saw his governor and congressman’s sons routed in the polls by their rivals.

Quiambao was accused by former governor Amado T. Espino, Jr – his high school classmate  - to be behind the massive cheating that saw his son and namesake the governor of the province lost in the May 9 election.

“The issue on me I think is wrong. This a joint team effort. The real changer here is Congressman Mark Cojuangco. He lost as a candidate for governor, moved to the 2^nd District. That’s the game changer. Without the sacrifice of Cong. Mark I don’t think we have a strong team,” Quiambao retorted to the query of this writer on the election machination that favors Guico and Cojuangco.

“Mula ng maging Mayor si Mr. Quiambao hindi na nanalo si Pogi. Dati si Ric (former Bayambang Mayor who ran the town’s top post) sa kanya mismong barangay,” he told reporters in a press conference he called at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here in May 10 with the Abante Pangasinan Ilokano (API) Secretary General Nelson V. Gayo and some Pangasinan mayoralty candidates who were trounced out in the polls like  Bryan Gotoc and Joseph Arman Bauzon.

In a press briefing to answer the accusations of Espino held on May 11 at the residence of Cojuangco in North Bay School, Maramba Blvd., Libsong West here, Quiambao – accompanied by Guico, Cojuangco, 1^st District Representative-Elect Art Celeste, Abono Partylist Congressman Eskimo Estrella, and Guico’s father and namesake the 5^th District Congressman-elect – cited the factors how Espino’s governor and 2^nd District Congressman sons lose the election.

He mentioned the unity of the members of the Aguila who were seated with him at the press conference and the persistence of Celeste to convince Cojuangco to transfer his residency in the 2nd District - the Lion’s Den of the Espinos where the former governor and the present solon reside – where Quiambao considered it a vacuum with their power play with the sitting political family.

 PRESS CONFERENCE called by Aguila last May 11 to answer the accusations of former Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. about the massive cheating done by the party to his governor and congressman's sons. The presser was held at the residence of 2nd District Cong. - Elect Mark Cojuangco at North Bay School, Maramba Blvd., Libsong West in Lingayen, Pangasinan. From L-to-R: Abono Party List Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella, 1st District Cong.-Elect Art Celeste, Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, Vice Governor-Elect Mark Lambino, Pangasinan Governor-Elect Ramon Guico, III, 2nd District Rep. -Elect Mark Cojuangco, and 5th District Cong. - Elect Ramon Guico, Jr.. PHOTO BY MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

It has more or less 315,000 registered voters (2022 data) that could prejudice the victory of Guico among the almost two million registered voters of the entire province in case they could not find an effective opponent to challenge Congressman Jumel Anthony Espino there.

Guico and reelectionist Pogi Espino garnered 885,272 votes, 697, 465 votes, respectively or a lead votes of 187, 801 in favor of Guico.

Cojuangco beat Jumel Espino with a lead votes of 14, 584 votes.

“First District we are strong. Our weakest point is the 2^nd District. We’re strong (in the) 4^th District, I think we’re strong in the 3^rd District, 5^th District we’ve the strongest support there, 6^th District we have the Abono. Look at the composition of the group. It’s really a united effort well- organized, well- studied, well- strategize”.

The third factor was the quality of the candidates Aguila fielded in the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5th Districts and the collaboration of the bets to buttress the political stocks of Aguila in the 6th District through the Abono Party List of exiting Rep. Conrad Estrella.

“The most important factor: The quality of the candidates. There was no single issue that were raised against the candidates especially Governor Monmon Guico”.

The fifth factor, according to Quiambao, was their resources like the use of helicopters where each of them – him, Cojuangco, and Guico - owned to hopscotch (especially for Guico) from up to four villages a day since they start barnstorming the barangays in September last year.

“We’re able to go around para sa (more than) 1,200 barangays. That makes the difference naka-helicopter kaming lahat”.

He said this technology bode them well to their march to victory.

“Very clear we did not apply technology to cheat. We look at the system. The system is 99% accurate that is the standard of the automative election,” as his rebuttal to the cheating yarn of the older Espino.

He cited the defeat of the opponents as the Espinos’ Fatigue where the patriarch and his sons governed the forty-four towns and three cities’ province for almost twenty years without significant improvement to the lives of the people.

“Siguro the fourth factor is Espinos’ Fatigue. Pagod na rin siguro ang mga tao. 15 years’ service hindi satisfied iyong tao”.

Except the vice governor and the Abono Party List’s nominee No. 1 Estrella, Quiambao told the public that the same individuals seated with him were the original members who shored up and catapulted Espino, Jr. to Congress in the 2005 election and the governorship in the 2007 poll.

“These are people who make him governor who made him congressman. All of us. So we can make a governor, we can also make a downfall of the governor”.

 Cong.-Elect Celeste butted in that if massive cheating had been perpetrated by their camp then his two brothers' former Congressman Jesus 'Boying" Celeste, exiting Congressman Noli Celeste, and Mangaldan Mayor Marilyn Lambino would not lose in the mayorship contests in the towns of Sual, Agno, and Mangaldan, respectively. The defeated candidates are members of Aguila.

The other factor this newspaper saw that caused the routing of the Espinos in the May 9 derby was the five expensive fifteen and thirty seconds’ political advertisement shown daily at the regional afternoon news of GMA-7 two months before the election.  Governor Espino’s public relation guys could only show pathetically three infomercials two weeks before the election.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Guico can Beat Espino – Quiambao

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.