Inducing a Lawmaker to Defect

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Upon seeing three city councilors of Dagupan City sworn into office at the Stadia in Lucao today, I told a lawmaker that of the 12 members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city legislature) the administration of newly elected Mayor Belen T. Fernandez should control the voting of the Dads there to pursue the “Hizzoner” programs in her three years’ term.

POWER PLAY. Senator Cynthia Villar (5th from left) and exiting Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim (3rd from left) pose for posterity after the oath taking with Villar of the seven newly elected Councilors of the Bangus City. Out of the ten newly elected Dads, incoming Mayor Belen Fernandez got only three that shows that the civilian Lim has the control of the Legislation. (Photo Credit: Public Information Office)

Presently, seven of the ten lawmakers who won the recent election came from the party of outgoing Mayor Brian Lim.

“You got three regular Councilors plus the ex-officio members of the Presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangays and the Samahang Kabataan Federation, that’s five. Lim got seven Dads and you need to buy through sums or give the vulnerable Dad supervision of some projects (where the Councilor can get his S.O.P or share from the contractor) to make him susceptible and makes the political equation six-six,” I opined, of course, in the vernacular.

 It means Mayor Fernandez’s allied Dads become six versus the six Councilors of Lim that transforms Vice Mayor Dean Brian L. Kua - the Veem and cousin of Fernandez – to become a tie breaker in favor of the new Mayor’ programs that need legislative approval.

Photo Credit: Green Team

“That’s my solution to the political conundrum there that I’ve been writing – including how to sway some of the majority Board Members of exiting Pangasinan Governor Espino in favor of Governor Guico (READ: Power PlayBetween Guico and Espino Continues), - after the Comelec declared who won the election in the evening of May 9,” I cited.

The Councilor – one of the few intelligent Dads in the August Body of the Bangus City – told me he is looking too for that “vulnerable” Councilor in Lim’s Party to go on leave every time there is a votation of a resolution or ordinance needed by the Fernandez Administration.

But I differed to him.

“Pangit naman iyong kada botohan mag li-leave of absence iyong isa o iyong dalawang councilors na sinasabi ninyo”.

I advised him to instigate that Dad to defect to their party instead of taking leave of absence every time there is a division of the house.

“Oo nga, ano?!” he quipped.

He said the Councilor I was zeroing used to be their party mate.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

The Lethal, Costly Weapons of a Cobra

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.

 

Mayor Niña Says Daunting Tasks Loom to Spike Stocks of Constituents

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – The incoming lady Mayor here has daunting tasks loom before her three years’ term how she will improve the social and economics stocks of her 129,011 constituents (2020 Census).

“I stand before you today knowing that I have a big shoe to fill because I am following the footsteps of the best mayor Bayambang has ever had,” Mayor-elect Mary Clare Judith Phyllis 'Nina' Jose-Quiambao described her predecessor-husband Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao who served this historic first town with chutzpah that amazed many people in and out of this flourishing high budget first class town.

INAUGURAL SPEECH. Bayambang Mayor-elect Mary Clare Judith Phyllis 'Nina' Jose-Quiambao gives her inaugural speech before selected guests attended by Pangasinan Governor-elect Ramon V. Guico, III and spouse's Maan Guico.

The speech held at the Event Center here last June 28 coincided with the oath taking into the office of the newly elected chief executive attended by Pangasinan Governor-elect Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III, spouse’s Ma-an and invited guests.

Quiambao pledged to continue the Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan  - a brainchild by her business tycoon husband.

“Bibigyang halaga pa rin natin ang Socio-cultural Development and Social Protection, Agricultural Modernization, Good Governance, Economic and Infrastructure Development, at Environmental Protection and Disaster Resiliency. At sa pagkakataon pang ito, muli po akong nanawagan sa inyo magtulungan po tayo. Magkaisa po tayo. Napakarami ng nagawa ang Team Quiambao-Sabangan (Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao and Vice Mayor Raul R. Sabangan), at marami pa tayong gagawin sa pagpapatuloy ng ating Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan at pagsasakatuparan ng mga plano sa Bayambang Poverty Reduction Plan,” an immaculate white Filipiniana gown garbed former actress – turned- politician emphatically told the applauding crowd.

The programs of the Quiambaos to chop the rearing ugly heads of poverty and boost the social and economics plights of the Pangasinan and Ilocano speaking residents here are the 10,000 jobs from their family funded vaunted bamboo industry, global city, protection against abuses to women and children, good governance, new town's owned university, ongoing construction of a hospital, and boosting agriculture through E-Agro Economics System.  

10,000 Jobs from the Quiambaos’ Bamboo Industry

Because of the family’s bamboo plantations in the four towns in Pangasinan, the Quiambaos need 10,000 workers to be part of them.

“Kailangan po namin ng sampung libong trabahante kasi pag may trabaho na po iyon po ang pangarap ng Team Quiambao –Sabangan (the new tandem of Quiambao and Vice Mayor-elect Ian Camille C. Sabangan) ang rebulusyon sa kahirapan,” she told the crowd in one of her campaign sorties several months ago.

She said that in year 2028 each of the families here should be earning not less than P10,000 a month.

Global City

She added that the 67 hectares’ development projects in Barangay Bani of the historic town will be an employment generating endeavor. The gargantuan projects – she and the spouse brainchild - will host a town center, coliseum, super malls, villages, and government center.

Pangasinan Governor-elect Ramon V. Guico, III (2nd from left front row) and spouse's Maan Guico. Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

“At sa pamamagitan po dito mas marami pong trabaho sa ating mga Bayambanguenos, mas maraming magbubukas at opurtunidad pa sa ating mga kababayan”.

Protection Against Abuses to Women and Children

Jose-Quiambao declared too her pet project on the protection of abused women and children.

“Abong na Aro (House of Love) na mag huhubog sa ating mga kababayan na inaabuso. Ngunit sa tingin ko kulang pa tayo sa concrete na programa na ganito”.

Good Governance

She crowed the good governance passionately advocated and vigorously implemented by her exiting mayor husband where entrenched and perennial corruption acts committed by the administration of his predecessors have been eliminated in the last five years.

“Kitang kita ninyo naman po ang mga buwis ninyo. Di ba lalong umunlad ang bayan ng Bayambang at lalo pa po nating papaunlarin patungo sa mas magandang Bayambang".

New Town's Owned University

This coming August the local government unit will open the Bayambang Polytechnic University (BPU). Quiambao said the free education given by the BPU to the youth here will be their pass for employment that can eventually help their family.

Spiking Agriculture thru E-Agro

She trumpeted about the online computer application concocted by her husband and friends that can jack-up the stocks of the rice, onion, and other farmers here.

“Ibig sabihin noon dapat po ginagamit po natin ang teknolohiya para maka innovate ng mga bagong paraan sa pagsaka. Kaya po ang aking asawa at si Tito George Yulo at iilang pang team ay gumawa po ng isang application ng apps sa phone”.

Mayor Nina and the newly elected members of the Sangguniang Bayan (Legislature).

She called it e-arrow ecosystem embedded in the android phones of the farm workers where its functions can be compared with those offered by online stores’ Lazada and Shopee.

“Sa pamamagitan po ng e-arrow at system na puwede na pong bumili ng (murang) binhi ang ating mga magsasaka at bumili ng fertilizer”.

She hoped the youth will have interest in farming after she will implement her programs in agriculture.

“Dahil naniniwala po kami sa Team Quiambao-Sabangan No. 1 force ng ating ekonomiya ay agrikultura kaya mabuhay po ang ating magsasaka”.

Outgoing Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao said the system financially backed by a venture of the public- private-partnership will lend money with miniscule interest to P50,000 or more to a farmer who tends a hectare of the corn, rice, or onion farm every four months from the time of planting and harvesting.

The E-Agro Economic System has four components’ Activity/Labor & Service, Land Preparation, Planting, and Fertilization (Labor) that could uplift the economics stocks of the downtrodden peasant.

Hospital

Jose-Quiambao cited the being constructed Julius K. Quiambao Medical and Wellness Center that could treat the health problems of the people here.

Quiambao said the medical center will be the first hospital in Region-1 that has mental health facilities.

“Ito pong hospital na ito ay donasyon ng aming pamilya para sa mga minamahal naming Bayambanguenos at Pangasinense”.

This 77 villages' town for this year has an annual appropriation budget of P700 million.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Bayambang Mayor Launches Online Borrowing to Boost Farmers’ Plight

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.

Hassle of Riding a Taxi in Manila

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Before my niece, my daughter, my wife, and I motored to the more than four hours trip to Manila from Dagupan City, I told the Missus if we four just rode a commercial air-conditioned bus where each of us just pay P500 or P2,000 for all of us.

 That would be 2,500 inclusive of the P500 taxi or Grab ride from the Cubao’s terminal of either the Victory Liner, Solid North, or Five Star Bus bound to the abode of my in-laws in the plush Valle Verde in Pasig where we have to spend the night for our last Friday’s morning flight to that iconic white beach paradise in Aklan province called Boracay.

SCARCE. Supply and demand for taxis in Metro Manila have dropped by almost half since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic as passengers have become fewer and fuel costs atrociously high, an organization of taxi operators said Friday, June 24. Photo credit: Onenews.ph

We would be spending P6,000 in case we commute with the same transportation and hailed from the same places when we go back to Dagupan City this morning.

I changed my mind however last Thursday afternoon. I told the spouse we would just gas up worth P5,000 of diesel we bought at P83 per liter somewhere in Calasiao town.

“I’ll be dropping by as a side trip at a government's office in Tarlac for an interview with its executive there,” I told her as I cancelled the other one in Urdaneta City.

When the Missus arrived in our room at Valle Verde yesterday (Sunday) night, she told me the long pathetic queues of Metro Manila residents she and her sister passed by in their vehicle after they had bought their groceries.

Many Taxi drivers there did not ply their vehicles because of the skyrocketing prices of fuels that spike every Tuesday.

“Mabuti na lang nag car tayo papunta dito,” thankful she told me about not being part of those hapless folks who had to wiggle out for a ride because of that transportation’s conundrum that happened too in the airport.

AUTHOR (2nd from left) and family at a hotel in Boracay's Paradise Island.

While exiting to the service road of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Express Way (TPLEX) where I would cruise the 30 minutes trip’s Paniqui, Tarlac to Bayambang, Pangasinan for a short cut to drop my niece at her house in Barangay Macabito, Calasiao, Pangasinan, I asked the Missus to compute how much we paid for our slick rides – aw shucks, up to 120 kilometers per hour my daughter yelled - in the toll gates of Norther Luzon Express Way (NLEX) and TPLEX vice versa where she added the P5,000 full tank of diesel.

“We paid P1,100 for the toll gates or a total spending of P6,100,” she retorted.

“Damn, a difference of P100 if we commute and being insulated on that hell hole's taxi cabs scarcity whose drivers saw no longer profitable to feed their family.

AUTHOR posing for posterity at the Crystal Cave in Boracay Island.

This what I posted at Facebook after we arrived at 7 Am this morning (Monday) in the Bangus City. My Op-Ed on tourism triggered Northern Watch Newspaper’s columnist Toots Orfinada - who is the tourism and public relation pundit of the Kingdom of Princess Urduja - to post his observation about the tourism industry of Alaminos City – the home of the Hundred Islands:

F-to R: Missus Miles, daughter Alex, and myself.

VIDEO: Fast boat from Boracay to Caticlan where an aircon van waits for us. From the hotel we rode two vans and an airport aircon bus - one of the three busses - for the 170 seaters Airbus jet that waits for us at the airport. There were three commercial jets parked at the tarmac of Caticlan Airport when we arrived there. A source told me there after Boracay was opened in 2021 to present there were 24 commercial jets that land every day. "Before the pandemic around 4O jets many from various parts of the country that arrived in Caticlan - a 15 minutes’ ferry ride to the world's renowned white beach island," he disclosed. Long haul jets from other countries like South Korea - the No.1 foreign money churning visitors -land in the 2,500 meters’ runway of the nearby Kalibo International Airport.

Before the pandemic there were 6,000 foreign and local tourists that come there EVERY DAY, Bert, who was the driver of another, van told me in Ilonggo as this writer speaks to the locals there in that vernacular.

A lady worker at the Malay town's local government unit, who sees the town's entry ticket, told me presently there are 2,000 guests that enter the Paradise Island where high end hotels like the P25,000 a day"s room Shangrila cordially wait for them.

Sanamagan! 2,000 guests multiplied by 3 days stay there means 6,000 individuals. How do they affect the local employment there if each of these tourists spend P8,000 in three days in their hotel fee, foods, and the amenities there like Islands' hopping?

Godzack and Godzilla! That's P48 million in three days! And I am not yet talking here about the P7000 round trip airline ticket for each of the passengers for the 30 minutes ride from Imperial Manila to this island in Aklan Province.

Our government should improve in other parts of the country our tourism sites as they are the goose that lay the golden eggs like in Thailand and Indonesia.

 READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Shield Law Does not Protect Radio Announcers on Libel

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.

 

Basista No. 3 in Ph. on DTI’s Resiliency Award

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BASISTA, Pangasinan – The Mayor of this thriving town is exhilarated nowadays after landing his local government unit (LGU) to No. 3 in the country’s most resilient towns amidst the economics challenges and natural calamities.

One of the examples was surviving economically the scarring pandemic’s Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) that wrought havoc for about two years in the country but through the chutzpah of Mayor Jolly Roque “J.R” Resuello, he still steered to boost the number of investors that come here.

NO. 3 IN PH. Basista, Pangasinan Mayor Jolly Roque “J.R” Resuello is flanked by the staff of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Bureau of the Department of Trade & Industry when his rustic town was feted as No.3 in the Philippines for being economically resilient amidst the challenges and calamities. 

“Buong Pilipinas pangatlo kami. No. 1 kami sa Pangasinan sa third and fourth class towns’ category,” he disclosed to Northern Watch Newspaper after the award for the third and fourth class towns' category given to him here by the top brass of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Bureau of the Department of Trade & Industry.

The plaque for the National Competitiveness Summit held last year was signed by DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

CMCI Director Lilian Salonga, Assistant Director Jordan Darom, and party personally come here last Wednesday from their Manila’s office to personally give the plaque of appreciation to the young reelective Mayor.

Salonga said the duty of her office is to recognize the LGUs that excel on their mandates as public corporation like in the commercial competitiveness category.

“We really want that the national competitiveness be hinged on local competitiveness that makes the framework”.

The strength of the thirteen villages’ town, according to the Director, was anchored on her resiliency’s pillar.

Assistant Director Jordan Darom told this writer that they personally sought to hand the award to authenticate if the indices given to them by the central Pangasinan’s LGU were for real.

Compared to other third and fourth class towns in the gargantuan province, this town burgeoned after the Mayor increased the rentals of the stalls in the public market – whose occupants did not pay the rentals religiously in the past -  repaired and improve the market by using the revenues being paid to the public coffer, and aggressively invite various new investors like 7-11, basement priced selling Chinese owned store 988, Welcome Mart Grocery, Driving School Office, Siomai House, and more stalls that sprouted in the public market that erased her reputation as a sleepy town blamed on the young mayor's predecessors.

He said an investor for McDonald is looking for a land her to put shop for the U.S licensed based food chain.

Ph. Should Buy Those Cheap Oil from Russia

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Almost every week prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in the Philippines soar. 80% of the runaway inflation that bust the pocket of poor Filipinos was blamed on the ballooning prices of crude due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Recently, incoming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos advised President-elect Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos, Jr. to maintain the third world country’s stance of neutrality in connection with the belligerents in Europe.
“We will take a neutral stance. Iyon naman talaga ang ginawa natin from the beginning and we have a very robust relationship with Russia and Russia might be able to supply us with our much-needed oil and gas,” Carlos answered in the Laging Handa briefing poser.

CLOSING IN TO P100. A gas station in Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City displays the latest fuel prices after oil firms announced another round of price hikes on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. / AMPER CAMPAÑA

She said the Philippines should shun emulating the United States, Australia, and their allies in the European Unions in inflicting economic embargoes to Moscow.

Many political spectators would disagree with the perceptive Carlos – geez, the advantage of having a honcho at the NSA with doctorate in geo-politics than appointing retired generals -  that the United States will vigorously oppose the plan of the Philippines to buy cheap crude from Russia. It is now almost P100 per liter for gasoline and diesel from the P40 liter average before the war.

As of press time, Russian crude is $35 per barrel while Brent roves at $120 per barrel, according to CBSNEWS.Com.

China and India have been buying the surplus oil of Russia as the United States, Great Britain, and Canada have out-rightly stopped procuring it because of the clarion call of the United States – that bankrolled with almost $54 billion at present Ukraine to fight Vladimir Putin.

The 27 E.U member - countries however have not been able to agree on the embargo.

What Carlos and Marcos will be doing are calculated brinkmanship in case of the economic retaliation by the U.S that can harm our export industries and import of necessary products for our consumption and components of our exports to her and allied countries.

For me however the situation of the Philippines is sue generis compared to Afghanistan, the Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe that were sanctioned economically by Uncle Sam and his allies.

The other punishing tool the U.S can harm uncooperative countries is the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). CAATSA  is a U.S law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. But it is used too against other states that buy products from these three rogue countries.

The flirting of the wily President Rodrigo Duterte with China caused the U.S to increase their military aid under his administration.

Since 2015 the Philippines is a recipient of P48.6 billion (U.S $1 Billion) of military assistance in the entire Indo-Pacific Region.

 Duterte’s pitting the U.S and China can be likened to other countries fueling the capitalist’s U.S to the Commie’s Soviet in the Cold War where human rights violators’ dictators friendly with Washington were not punished.

Even post-Cold War, Democratic Party elected U.S President Joe Biden did not scourge Duterte on his human right’s violations records where thousands of Filipinos died in the latter Drug War.

 The Philippines will weather her procurement of crude to Russia without the U.S punishing Manila with sanction.

Uncle Sam will not withhold its military assistance to this poor Southeast Asian country otherwise the latter becomes China’s ally and lake and chokes Taiwan and the U. S5.3 trillion yearly commercial sea lane of countries like South Korea, Japan, and the U.S that benefited on it.

Chinese warships can mine if not torpedo those commercial ships that ply the area – just like what could happen in the Malacca Strait and what had happened in the English Channel where Nazi’s Germany’s torpedoed through their submarines the convoys of merchant ships that ply the U.S and Great Britain.

This balance of power’s conundrum was no different to the Cold War where countries who have strategic geographical locations like Japan were recipients of the billions of dollars’ yearly military and economic aid from Uncle Sam.

Here’s former presidential writer, paleo-conservative political commentator, op-ed writer, politician, and broadcaster Patrick J. Buchanan on his excellently written book titled The Great Betrayal (damn, I bought it for a song at Book Sale):

“The State Department proposed unilateral U.S concessions on 56 percent of Japanese imports – including glassware, chinaware, optical goods, automobiles, sewing machines, surgical instruments, cameras, and footwear”.

Buchanan said that allowing the Japanese to have a share of the U.S market with less if no tariff imposed on her means “national security became the ultima ratio, the final argument, in every trade dispute. As the free world’s leader, America needed allies and strengthen them for the struggle was through “trade, not aid”.

If America wants the blithering poor country Philippines not going to the dogs, she supplies us with cheap oil to tame the debilitating inflation that keeps soaring otherwise allows us to buy that dirt cheap $35 a barrel oil from the Ivans.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

The Lethal, Costly Weapons of a Cobra

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.

Doble Kayod, Dagdag Proyekto sa Ilalim ng Resuello Admin

 

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BASISTA, Pangasinan – Doble’ kayod at dagdag proyekto ang gagawin ng mga opisyal dito sa pamumuno ni reelective Mayor Jolly Roque “JR” Resuello.

Ani nito bibigyan niya ng paraan sa susunod na tatlong taong mandato niya ang sports development, mga magsasaka, imprastraktura, paghikayat sa mga investors, pagpapatayo ng bagong slaughter house at iba pa.

 Litrato na Basista Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) Coordinators diyad pangiuulo nen Sir Jumely Montemayor-School Head In-Charge na Scouting kaibay Hon. Jolly "JR" R. Resuello, Mayor ed baley na Basista. (Litrato nala ed Facebook post nen Sir Jumely Montemayor)

Sports

“Mag focus tayo sa mga kabataan katulad kung saan nadamutan sila ng pagkakataon sa sports,” diin ng batang Alkalde lalo na noong nagka locked down dahil sa pandemya.

Farmers

Giit nito lalong pagtitibayin ng pamahalaang Resuello ang samahan ng mga magsasaka dito sa pagpatuloy ng mga programang nakalaan sa kanila.

Infrastructure

Sinabi nito na kailangang tutukan ang proyektong imprastraktura dahil marami ng kailangan ang bayan na ito.

Investors

“Invite sa mga investors diyan sa palengke, ganoon din sa slaughter house na pinaplanong itayo. Sa mga kailangang ipatayo dito sa ating mahal na bayan ng Basista,” sambit nito sa Northern Watch Newspaper.

Sinabi pa ng Alkalde na patuloy nilang hinihikayatin ang mga investors sa paglagak ng mga kanilang negosyo dito.

Magmula ng siya ay nanalo noong May 2019 election marami ng mga umusbong na mga edipisyo at negosyo sa ilalim ng kanyang administration.

“Dito sa Basista ay iisa with my Vice Mayor and the members of the Sanggunian Bayan at iyong 13 na Kapitanes at mga manggagawa para maging maayos at maganda iyong flow ng mga mangyayari sa bawat barangay at sa bayan namin”.

Sinabi rin ng Mayor na malapit ng ma ipatupad “ang plano ng aming flood proof na palengke para maging maginhawa sa mga mamimili”.

Bukod sa mga tao dito, ang mga parokyano ng palengke ay nangagaling pa sa mga barangays ng San Carlos City, Bayambang, at Urbiztondo.

P50-K to Each of the Villages Where Guico Beats Espino

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – Just like what he promised to his constituents here, outgoing Billionaire-Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao gave P50,000 reward to the leaders of each of the 304 of the villages’ 3^rd District who saw governorship candidate Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III beat incumbent Governor Amado Espino, III.

Guico beat Espino by 187, 801 lead votes when he garnered 885,272 votes against Espino’s 697,465 in the May 9 provincial derby of Pangasinan.

“Mga pangako bago mag-election. Sana tuloy tuloy ang ating samahan at sana magsama-sama tayo kung puwede forever di ba? BFF! It’s (best) friends forever,” Quimabao exhorted the leaders in the vernacular.

The awarding was held at the Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park in Bayambang where Quiambao and Guico’s allies and supporters from those recipient villages from the city of San Carlos, and the five towns of Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Bayambang, and Sta. Barbara attended in the morning of June 16.

EXITING BAYAMBANG BILLIONAIRE MAYOR Cezar T. Quiambao (3^rd from left, photo) and  Quiambao’s Man Friday 3^rd District Board Member VC Ventanilla (2^nd from left, photo) browse the headline’s May 9 Election in P’nan Credible – Comelec of Northern Watch Newspaper while in the middle of the distribution of P50,000 award to each of the villages in the Central Pangasinan district held recently at the  Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park in Bayambang where Governor-elect Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III won the May 9, 2022 election against rival outgoing six years Governor Amado “Pogi” Espino, III. Guico and his leaders from the one city and five towns’ district attended too the event. Photo Credit: Prof. Arnel Montemayor

According to exiting Sta. Barbara Mayor Joel delos Santos of the 29 barangays in his landlocked town, 21 barangays saw Guico won over Espino.

Malasiqui Vice Mayor-elect Alfie Soriano disclosed to the other reporter of Northern Watch Newspaper that out of the 73 villages of the gargantuan town, 69 of the barangays buttressed Guico’s victory.

During the miting de avance of Quiambao’s spouse mayorship candidate Niña Jose-Quiambao on May 8, he exhorted the thousands of crowds in the public plaza here that he would reward them P1.5 million to each of the 77 barangays here if his bets of 18 candidates win by defeating Espino and his candidates from the national to the municipal levels.

“Meron tayong gantimpala sa barangay na magbibigay ng 18-0 mula sa P600, 000 hangang P1, 450,000 depende sa laki ng inyong barangay. Mayo Diyes puede ninyo ng kulektahin. At sinabi ko doon sa mga Barangay Captains 10% ng gantimpala para sa barangay, 90% hati-hatiin ninyo lahat para pagdating ng Mayo Diyes meron na naman kayong pandagdag pang ayuda,” he told the applauding and cheering thousands of supporters who attend the band backed hoopla of his wife’s miting de avance held in that evening.

The 18 candidates of Mayor Quiambao are Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr and Sara Duterte for the presidential and vice presidential posts, respectively, of the UNITEAM, Abono Partylist, Maria Rachel Arenas for the 3^rd District Congressional seat, 5^th District Cong. Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III and Vice Gov. Mark Lambino for the governorship and vice governorship of Pangasinan of the opposition party, two candidates for the provincial board of the 3^rd District, Mary Clare Phyllis “Niña” Jose-Quiambao and IC Sabangan for the mayorship and vice mayorship, respectively, of this robust town, and the eight candidates for the lawmaking body.

EXECUTIVES: L-to-R: Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, Pangasinan Governor-elect Ramon Guico, III, Northern Watch Newspaper Columnist Arnel Montemayor with nom de plume as Munting Isko, and Sta. Barbara Mayor Joel delos Santos.

The pronouncement of Quiambao – whose family owned the nationally renowned  Stradom (IT Solution for Real Change) and Land Registration Systems - debunked the outrageous tale among several individuals that the zero votes in the 2019 election to his party’s opponents like perennial mayoralty rival former Mayor Ric Camacho and Governor Amado Espino, III – the son of his high school classmate the former governor and with the same namesake – were victim of manipulation of the internet backed election machine when they got zero votes in some villages here.

One-Horse Town's Voters Bought at P5,200 Each

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I had a tête-à-tête with an exiting mayor in the central part of the province who lost in the recent election. He continues to smile despite blaming the bloc voting Iglesia ni Kristo (InC) and the superior wherewithal of the rival during the pakurong (vote buying in the eve of the election. Damn, This Pangasinan word is superior. It represents eight words in English) as the culprits.

He cited how the new provincial government will give him a piece of the action on its construction binge while his rival – a former mayor and a contractor likes him – will be deprived of the same privilege because his patron the outgoing governor was defeated in the poll.

VOTE BUYING in the May 2022 election in the congressional, gubernatorial, and mayoral levels in the Philippines deteriorated that political pundits say the succeeding victories of candidates will be gauged through superiority of funds and no longer through performances.

“Pati sa quarry wala na siya sa action,” he quipped as digs on his nemesis.

Even the betting number game business will be given to the losing hizzoner.

“After my rival beat me, two of his former trusted men in jueteng met with the ally of the incoming occupant of the Capitol. But they were rebuffed. The instruction: That concern will be given to me,” the defeated mayor said.

Why the generosity of the incoming dispensation? Because it wants to help and buttress the political stocks of the allies who lost so they can regain their former position from their rivals in the 2025 mayorship poll.

***

While I was engaged blogging and column writing about the necessity of the administration of Governor-elect Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III to raid the ranks of Governor Amado Espino, III friendlt members of the provincial lawmakers to transform his four loyal Board Members to eight and becomes a majority, some of the mayors who were supporters of Governor Espino, III and his father and namesake – the former governor and the real McCoy of the nitty gritty of the Pangasinan politics for 15 years - have been deserting them.

Two of them were a mayor of a huge landlocked local government unit and a first class town.

The six years Hizzoner of the first class town showed to the Guv his dream to beautify the tourism come-on of his coastal town and other laudable projects. His Man Friday told me the Governor lauded him and assured him that the provincial government will collaborate with his projects.

The landlocked mayor –who got the goat of a losing governorship bet in the 2016 election but won the 2022 congressional race – was brought in Binalonan by individuals known in the province to be expert on the Small Town Lottery (STL).

***

It’s ironical how a one-horse town mayoral rivals spent P5,200 to just woo the votes of her more than 20,000 registered voters in the last election.

The Hizzoner who on conditioned of anonymity told me how his opponent underestimated him after he (opponent) allegedly sold himself by three million pesos (other says P8 million) to abandon the incumbent governor and the sitting congressman in favor of a moneyed congressional candidate.

“P2,500 ang bilihan nila ng boto. Mabuti na lang may kamag anak akong nagpahiram ng mahigit P40 million”.

Because of the fresh financial chest to be used in the eve of vote buying, he won the election by few hundreds of votes.

His comparative advantage in the surreptitious business in sneaking bills: He added two hundred pesos to make it P2,700 per electorate.

Many lost the mayoralty election in the Philippines because their rival spikes with a few hundred pesos the sums they give to the vulnerable voters.

Electorates nowadays are ungrateful and stupid. They could not appreciate how the sitting chief executive improved the municipalities in his three years’ stint. They become susceptible to the more superior funds of the other camp.

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Modern Western Weaponry V. Poorly Armed Russian Army

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.