Monday, February 27, 2023

Rosario Tweets DOT: Makes Manaoag a Pilgrims’ City

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 MANAOAG, Pangasinan – The mayor here appeals to the Department of Tourism (DOT) to make this pilgrimage town a city through a congressional special proclamation.

Actually we’re appealing to the D.O.T para hingin naming magkaroon ng special proclamation that they’ll make Manaog as pilgrimage city. Special proclamation not through the usual (regular) congressional legislation dahil hindi kami papasok, ” Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario told Northern Watch Newspaper.


MANAOAG MAYOR Jeremy Agerico Rosario (2nd from right, photo) meets in his office with representatives of Sta. Lucia Realty leads by Businessman Joey de Venecia (extreme right, photo).

Rosario explained the reasons why the landlocked central Pangasinan municipality should be converted to cityhood. The rustic town’s population (76, 045 in 2020 Census) vary in the weekend, daytime, and nighttime.

Pilgrims burgeoned more or less eighty percent of the above population during Tuesday and weekends in the first class town dubbed, according to Rosario a surgeon – as Blessed Capital of the Philippines. Its flourishing demography bode well because land travel from Metro Manila to here is shortened because of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

“We are blessed because we are being gifted by a lot of pilgrims. Based on our survey 54,000 to 55, 000 weekly arrivals in Manaoag. That’s a great advantage of the people of Manaoag”.

During his visit here, DOT Region-1 Director Joseph Francisco Ortega told this writer that there were 8, 000, 000 tourists that visited the town in 2019.

“Here in the province of Pangasinan the most producing in the region. In fact ang Manaoag sa stat (statistics) noong 2019 produced eight million visitors and in fact Bolinao is one of the biggest producing traffics as destination in the region”.

Ortega said the DOT advocated for the cityhood of Manaoag through special congressional approval.

According to Republic Act No. 9009 the two requirements for a regular cityhood are the following: (a) locally generated income of at least ₱100 million (based on constant prices in the year 2000) for the last two consecutive years, as certified by the Department of Finance, and a population of at least 150,000, as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); or a contiguous territory of 100 square kilometers, as certified by the Land Management Bureau.

To boost more police visibility in the town, the Mayor appealed to the Philippine National Police to convert the police classification of the municipality from second class to first class so the chief of police here becomes a Lieutenant Colonel from the present lower ranked Major. Under the present category this town is only allowed to maintain up to 35 policemen that Rosario wanted to be increased.

“Kasi undermanned talaga ang aming bayan hirap ang mga police dahil mga there are 34 -35 (policemen only)”.

He sees too the construction of the old public market this year to start so it can be transformed to modernity.


Thursday, February 23, 2023

Mun. Politikos Kin to Powerful Nat’l Officials

By Mortz C. Ortigoza 

DAGUPAN CITY – Two high elected politicians of Pangasinan province are relatives to powerful national officials.

Binmaley Mayor Pete Abalos Merrera and San Fabian Vice Mayor Danny Batrina Agbayani are cousins to Department of Interior & Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benjur” Abalos, Jr. and Presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos, respectively.

Merrera

“Kasi magpinsan ang mother ko at father niya (because my mother and his father are cousin),” the first term Mayor of the first class coastal town told Northern Watch Newspaper.

KIN TO POWERFUL POLITICOS. Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera (left) and San Fabian Vice Mayor Danny Agbayani.

DILG is dubbed as one of the two most powerful departments of the national government because it controls the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Local Government Academy, National Police Commission, National Youth Commission, Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College and others.

Abalos, he said, told the crowd, the regional and provincial public officials during his town’s 433rd Foundation and Sigay Festival 2023 that he is the cousin of the mayor.

Abalos and his namesake father who is the former Commission on Election Chief and present Mayor of Mandaluyong City graced the festivity where famous Manila pop music group Lemon & Orange entertained the people.

He cited how DILG Region-1 Director Agnes de Leon appealed to him for Secretary Abalos to grace the fĂȘting of the regional Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Audit on some towns in Pangasinan who qualified for it to be held in San Fernando City, La Union.

“Sabi niya Mayor kausapin si Secretary na pumunta naman doon. Kinausap ko siya”.

Abalos acquiesced while the mayor remained at the sideline when the Secretary asked his executive assistant to call him so he can join near him at the presidential table.

Tapos hindi ko alam na naka barong silang lahat (mayors) ako naka red na collar shirt doon. Sabi ko nakabarong kayong lahat paano ako pupunta doon sa harap. Huwag na kako umupo na ako tapos iyong executive assistant (sabi) pinatawag kayo ni Secretary e pinuntahan ko na rin siya tapos nagyakapan kaming dalawa”.

The conversation of Merrera with this writer was interrupted when he called on his mobile phone his “Tito Ben” – the father of the Secretary.

Merrera said that the Mayor of Mandaluyong could not attend the February 21 to 23 General Assembly of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) held at the Manila Hotel in Metro Manila.

He said that he is not bragging about his kinship with the Secretary but he was seeing the latter when they were teenagers.

Agbayani

Former San Fabian's nine-year Mayor and the incumbent Vice Mayor Agbayani cited to this newspaper that presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos introduced him to the crowd when he was with the regional and provincial luminaries when the senator led the distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's cash assistance to 1,000 residents identified as Individuals in Crisis Situation.

Pag upo sa itaas umupo sila sina Gob (Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III), Vice Gov. (Mark Lambino) si PD (Pangasinan Provincial Director Col. Jeff Fanged) at si RD (Police Regional Director Brig. Gen. John Chua) ngayon sa dulo ako katabi ko si Gov. Ni introduce si Mayora (his wife Mayor Marlyn) ni (Senator) Imee ako naman sabi niya: Iyong ex-mayor ninyo noon na vice mayor ninyo ngayon sabi niya import from Ilocos Norte kamag-anak ko pa ito hahahaha ang linaw. At saka saan pa kayo? Sabi niya Mayor Danny Agbayani iyan!” he laughed while quoting the lady solon.

He said the Governor and the Police Regional Director Brig. Gen. Chua asked him if indeed the Marcoses are his cousin.

“Kasinsin mo gayam si Marcos nga Ilocos? (So the Marcos of Ilocos are really your cousin?),” Chua inquired to him in Ilocano after the event.

Yes Sir!” he narrated to this newspaper chuckling.

Agbayani said Chua hailed from Fort Ilocandia.

Because of his relationship with Marcos the latter interceded for multi-million pesos’ concrete bridge in the Department of Public Works & Highway that was constructed in the northern part of his town.

Agbayani said that even National Irrigation Administration Administrator Eddie G. Guillen - a former mayor in Ilocos Norte - visited him at his house and inquired about projects needed in the province to be funded by the agency.

“Sabihan ang mga kaibigang mga mayors mag request ng mga resolutions kargahan natin”.

He said the NIA Adminstrator allowed his request not to reassign to other region NIA Regional Manager Dennis de Vera in the reshuffling of the managers of the agency.

Guillen replaced Benny Antiporda after the Ombudsman suspended him because of a criminal case.

READ:

Sec. Abalos After the Scalp of Dagupan City Kap

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Sec. Abalos After the Scalp of Dagupan City Kap

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

In the food security event yesterday held at Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City (damn, the village has 250, 000 population that could shame the demography of cities in the country) graced by the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjur Abalos and Undersecretary Fel Valmocina - the 20 years multi-millionaire Kap of Holy Spirit -, I joined Secretary Abalos' second cousin Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera and his older brother Butch after Secretary Abalos invited them to join him there.

When we stepped down from our vehicles around eight o’clock in the morning, cordial staff of the two officials were there to greet us and ushered us to go in a function room of the huge village’s local government unit.


INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. Photo credit: Manila Times

They knew the Merreras because they were at the Binmaley grand fiesta – the biggest in terms of crowd who attended the revelry in the Bay Walk. It was graced by Secretary Abalos and his father Mandaluyong Mayor Ben Abalos  (a former Judge, former Commission on Election Chief, and cousin of the mother of the Merreras – a retired Judge) that saw Pangasinan Mayors and Governor, the top brass of the police in the region and the province, and the “who is who” of the four province’s Region-1 “scrambled” to attend because the Hizzoner of the coastal first class town had the chutzpah to dial his phone and persuade powerful pinsan Benhur and Tito Ben to come.

“He is Mortz Ortigoza our media man in Pangasinan,” Butch and the Mayor introduced me to Undersecretary  Valmocina and Sec. Abalos man Friday DILG Legal Honcho Attorney Ferdie Buendia.

Are you related Attorney to (top Pinoy rock band) Eraserhead’s front man Ely Buendia?” I posed to the Ilocano from Cagayan province.

He answered in the negative.

Pupunta kami sa Dagupan (City) this week. Iimbestigahan namin ang Kapitan diyan na involved sa demolition,” he told me.

When I queried what did the coastal barangay chairman has done, he told me that a friend of Secretary Abalos who was constructing a beach house complained to him that the Kapitan demolished his (her?) residence.

“His act was grave abused of authority”.

He said despite the resident being sued by the Kap with a cyber-libel after he took a video on the actuation of the Punong Barangay during the demolition and posted it on Facebook it was of no moment because there was no criminal case there.

Besides, there was no nuisance per se there,” Sec. Abalos’ legal officer Buendia added.

Nuisance, a legal word, means a person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance.

A nuisance per se is an act, thing, omission, or use of property which of itself is a nuisance, and hence is not permissible or excusable under any circumstance.

***

It can be recalled that the gung-ho Secretary Abalos suspended last January 24 Pangasinan DILG Director Virgilio Sison who directed the Bayambang Police to conduct an investigation on the suicide of farmers in that town.

Hinihintay ko yung explanation ng DILG [Pangasinan head], bakit siya gumalaw nang hindi ko alam on a provincial level? Inaalam ko rin yun. I am just awaiting for explanation lang,” Abalos told reporters.

The brouhaha started when Bayambang onion farmer Merly Gallardo complained to Senator Imee Marcos that cops in the town harassed her after she told the Senate hearing that at least five onion farmers including her husband in Pangasinan had committed suicide when the peasants could not pay their debts because of the spike of the prices of fertilizers and other expenses on their endeavor.

“Hands off lang po sa mga testigo ng Senado! Natatakot na ang mga magsasaka ng sibuyas sa biglaang pagkakatok ng pulis kagabi hanggang ngayong umaga upang papirmahin ng sinumpaang salaysay na nagbabaliktad sa kanilang ibinunyag sa Senado noong Martes,” a livid Marcos said.

With the Director of the DILG in the huge province suspended by Sec. Abalos, will this coastal Kapitan in Dagupan City will be meted, too, with suspension? Abangan as I will get tab on the action of the DILG legal honcho’s Buendia.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Killings Will Decline if Murderers Are Exposed

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

If our law enforcement agencies could identify expeditiously the killer, his accomplice and principal on the spate of extra-judicial killings and assassination in our country – just like what happened in the Percy Lapid, Davao City model Yvonette Chua, and some of the 34 ’sabungeroos” (cockfighting aficionados), would be murderers in the Philippines would be discouraged to do their dastardly acts.

Protesters march towards a town square during a rally calling for justice for the victims of alleged extra-judicial killings of local villagers, leaders and other human rights activists in Negros province and other townships in the central Philippines and other parts of the country in Manila, Philippines.  (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Look how an active police under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos had done to slowly recoup the confidence of our people to law enforcers when through effective sleuthing on those security cameras, videos of other people capturing the footages of the corpus delecti  (body of the crime), and the come-on of being qualified on the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program of the country  (and spared with eventual conviction) even killers like Joel Escorial and Army Private First Class Delfin Sialsa of fire breathing commentator Lapid and the stunner Chua, respectively, would easily rat to the cops like what they did to then Bureau of Corrections Director-General Gerald Q. Bantag and cohorts and  Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante, III (former President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief security) and ilk.

If the Marcos Administration could abruptly identify the principals and the killers behind the abductions in various occasions and places of those 34 sabungeros, the unabated extra-judicial killings and assassination in the Philippines would be mitigated significantly.

These sabungeros were suspected killed because they did e-sabong "website cloning" or spoofing and sabotaging their roosters so they would lose while secretly betting on their opponents’ entries. Even though they committed a nefarious act against their fellow humans, the latter have no right to murder those involved. They should sue them instead in court and wait how blinded Lady Justice – the Roman goddess Justicia - to convict or absolve them.

The spate extra judicial killings – or what the Filipinos bastardized called “salvaging” have been unabated – specially during the term of Duterte where cops have blood on their hands – against our defenseless citizens suspected if not actually selling narcotics because nobody courageously file a criminal case against the culprits.

Under Duterte, life was cheap based on the 12, 000 who were killed according to Human Rights Watch because they were involved in the selling of illegal drugs.

A retired police colonel, who asked on conditioned of anonymity, told us media men in a social function that assassination and murder swell during the Duterte Administration compared to the present dispensation because there was an order allegedly in the higher echelon of the government in the first dispensation as part of the quota in the war of drugs.

With a pro-active citizenry and an efficient law enforcement in the police and the National Bureau of Investigation resolving with dispatch those murder cases and apprehending those malefactors, President Marcos, Department of Interior & Local Government Secretary Benjur Abalos, Philippine National Police Chief Director Gen. Rodolfo Azurin and his successors could ride with the glory and plaudits given by this grateful nation. These would be the legacy of the Marcos Administration that it could reaps upon ending its reign in June 30, 2028.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Zaplan Weds 25 Couples in Valentine’s Day Celebration

After Sta. Barbara won ADAC, SGFH

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – The mayor of this landlocked first class town officiated the wedding of 25 couples held during the February 14 Valentine’s Day Celebration.

The wedlock of the couples by Mayor Carlito S. Zaplan was held in the Orbos Auditorium in the poblacion area of the thriving town.  

Meanwhile, the local government unit (LGU) under Zaplan was a recipient recently of the 2022 Regional Anti – Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Awards given by the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benjur” Abalos, Jr. last February 3, 2023 in Agoro Event Center, Thunder Bird Resort in San Fernando City, La Union.

Sta. Barbara Mayor Lito S. Zaplan officiates the wedding of 25 couples during the Valentine's Day celebration held in the Orbos Auditorioum of the landlocked town. (Photo by Erning Cayabyab)


Isa ang ating bayan ng Sta. Barbara sa  mga nakatanggap ng incentive na ipinagkaloob ng DILG sa ginanap na 2022 Regional ADAC (Anti-Drug Abuse Council) Performance Awards noong February 3, 2023 sa pamamagitan po ng ating mahal na Alkalde Hon. Carlito S. Zaplan sa Agora Events Center, Thunder Bird Resort, SFDO, La Union. Ito ay mula sa pagkilala sa atin ng DILG bilang ADAC awardee, “according to the Facebook Page’s post of the Municipality.

Moreover, the Zaplan Administration is one of the 43 towns in Pangasinan this year to have been awarded with the prestigious Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH) by the DILG for complying with the accounting and auditing standards and rules and regulations.

The requirements for passing the SGFH are: (1) the most recent available Commission on Audit (COA) audit opinion and (2) compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy by posting all required financial documents in three conspicuous places and in the FDP portal.

 The SGFH is one of the three core components to hurdle the most challenging award body’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) where an LGU should pass all the three components of Good Financial Housekeeping, Disaster Preparedness, and Social Protection and one of the three essential components in either of the business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order and environmental management. It is dubbed as “3 + 1”.

 

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Basista is Recipient of 10 Reg’l, Nat’l Awards

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 BASISTA, Pangasinan – The young mayor of this fourth-class town proudly declared that his administration since last year was recipients of 10 national and regional awards for exemplary performances in governance.

Mayor Jolly R. Resuello cited the national awards’ Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)  –dubbed as the gold standard of all the national fetes -from the Department of Interior & Local Government, Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG), 2022 Regional Anti - Drug-Abuse Council (ADAC) from the DILG, Performance Awards Gawad Kalasag from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), No. 8 in Region-1 for the Subaybayani 2022, Peace & Order Council (POC) from the DILG, No.3 nationally on the 2022 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) of the Department of Trade & Industry, and the latest Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH).

AWARDS WINNING MAYOR. Basista Mayor Jolly R. Resuello (4th from left, photo) and Department of Interior & Local Government Secretary Benjamin "Benjur" Abalos, Jr in one of the town's fetes as awardee of national plaudit.

“Marami kaming awards sampu,” he told Northern Watch Newspaper after seeing its previous issues how some local government units (LGUs) received the Subaybayani and the SGLG awards.

On being No.3 nationally in the CMCI award of the DTI in the Philippines for being economically resilient amidst the challenges and calamities, Resuello, a two- term serving chief executive of the landlocked town, told Northern Watch Newspaper:  

“Buong Pilipinas pangatlo kami. No. 1 kami sa Pangasinan sa third and fourth class towns’ category.”

 This after the award last year for the same towns' category given to him here by the top brass of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Bureau of the DTI.

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

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.

Among the 44 towns in Pangasinan only 17 municipalities were feted last year with the SGLG.

 Resuello acknowledged Abalos statement that the SGLG is the golden standard in gauging how competent public officials who run an LGU.

“SGLG iyan ang pinakamataas na pagkakilala ng DILG sa isang bayan,” the young mayor of the town in central Pangasinan cited.

Resuello said the achievement of the rustic town ensued because of the cooperation of the offices of the mayor, vice mayor, the lawmaking body, and department heads.

He disclosed to Northern Watch Newspaper the town had been a recipient of the SGLG in the years 2016 under Mayor Manolito de Leon, 2019 under De Leon and himself when he became the mayor in June 30, 2019, and this year.

Aside its seal as a ticket to an expeditious bank's loan transaction for the LGU, it has a three million pesos’ award to a municipal winner.

Unlike his predecessors, Resuello is lukewarm to borrow monies from banks to fund his governance.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Mayor, Father Blame Ex-Mayor Why Town Failed on SGFH

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

I bumped into Calasiao Mayor Kevin Roy Macanlalay and his father the flourishing town former long reigning Hizzoner Roy as they conversed in the round table with retired Police Major Gen. Mariel Magaway (PMA’86) – my bilas who is the former Chief of the Directorial for Intelligence (D.I) of the national police. D.I is a feared division because it's a spook against the crooks among the police. My meeting with them was during the 87th birthday bash of my mother-in-law Norma Montoya-Rosario held in her swanky residence in Brgy. Macabito, Calasiao.

My first poser to the Macanlalays when I sat near them: What happened to the first class town – one of the three most progressive municipalities in Pangasinan – that it was the lone local government unit (LGU) that did not pass the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH),” as I whisked out from my knapsack the headline of the Northern Watch Newspaper I bylined: 43 Pangasinan Towns Fete with SGFH.


Had the DILG negligently omitted that the Puto Town as part of those honored SGFH recipients?

“We have 44 towns in Pangasinan and it became suspicious to me upon browsing the report of the DILG that this thriving town was not included,” I told them.

Both of them said that it was the fault of former Mayor Joseph Bauzon who reigned the municipality from January to June 30, 2022 – the year the evaluation was done. They said many projects in the town did not pass the prying eyes of the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG).

Were they dubious procurement and infrastructure projects?

DILG was the one that screened and approved who hurdle the SGFH. The requirements for passing it are: (1) the most recent available Commission on Audit (COA) audit opinion and (2) compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy by posting all required financial documents in three conspicuous places and in the FDP portal. The SGFH is one of the three core components to hurdle the most challenging award body’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) where an LGU should pass all the three components of Good Financial Housekeeping, Disaster Preparedness, and Social Protection and one of the three essential components in either of the business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order and environmental management. It is dubbed as “3 + 1”.

Aside its seal as a ticket to an expedite loan transaction in a bank for the LGU it has a three million pesos award to a winner.

Last year, only 17 towns passed the elusive SGLG – the gold standard among all government plaudits among the 44 Pangasinan towns.

***

 I asked the duo how they would react on the attacks from the mainstream and social media about Mayor Kevin transferring from the air-conditioned gym or sports center to their family's huge Plaza Adelaida Events Place and Catering Services in Barangay Bued the recent Kasalang Bayan (mass wedding of their constituents).

Critics said that during the six months’ administration of the late Mayor Maya Caramat public weddings were customarily held in the sports center in the poblacion area.

The Macanlalay Administration, as insinuated by these critics, to have profited on that supposed free wedding.

Former Mayor Roy said it was transferred in Adelaida for free because the air conditioning system in the gym had a problem and they were too happy to share for gratis the ambiance of their personal air conditioning system.

By the way, the seasoned nine years Mayor Roy told me he was the SAM of his son.

What is SAM?” I asked him.

“SAM is Special Assistant to the Mayor with a one-peso salary a year.

It means he is the Grigori Rasputin of his mayor –son Kevin M.

Rasputin, to those jeepney drivers and carpenters who read this blog - was best-known as the adviser of the royal family of Nicholas II, the last King or Emperor of Russia, through whom he gained considerable influence in the later years of the Russian Empire.

***

During the 87th birthday of my mother-in-law, I met too foreign nuns who have a convent in the village. One of them was a Sister Ana from El Salvador in Central America.

After my Missus Miles and I had photo-op with them, my friend Bong Aguillar – a rabid Macanlalay supporter – quipped: “Boss Mortz buti na lang di nila alam mga kuwento (nun and priest jokes) mo sa kanila”.

I told him in the vernacular: Itong katabi ko from El Salvador. Sabi ko magulo dati iyong bansa nila Communist vs. Rightists gaya ng Nicaragua Contra vs. Sandinista.

I told Sister Ana how the U.S government supported the abusive regime of Chile Augusto Pinochet - a General who brutally ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990 - from his coup d' tat (golpe de estado) against duly elected Marxist President Salvador Allende.

Tuwang tuwa si Sister marami daw ako alam sa Latin America.

I told her in English - since I could not speak in Spanish - that I used to teach International Politics among students who majored in Political Science in college.

The Sister lamented when I told her that during the knuckle duster regime of Pinochet whose name is synonymous with the words’ Desparecidos and the Caravan of Death, activists, socialist, and members of the opposition to his regime were not only killed and assassinated – 3,000 of em’ not including those 1,000 whose remains were not recovered - but thrown out from the helicopters. Some if not many of the orphans of these murdered citizens were even adopted by the same military officials who ordered their killings.

Son of a gun, it was like in the flick’s Zorro (starred by Antonio Banderas) where the infant Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones) – and later Zorro’s girlfriend -  was taken by the corrupt California Governor Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson) when the latter accidentally killed his loved of his life – the mother of Elena and ordered the imprisonment of Elena’s father Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins).

Pinochet, by the way, ordered the assassination of Allende when he took power in September 11, 1973. But other historians said Allende poisoned himself rather than be captured in his hiding place at Palacio La Moneda in downtown Santiago by the soldiers of General Pinochet.

An Allende Administration would not be good with the U.S businesses in the region especially his reign was timed during the Cold War between the two superpowers the capitalist United States of America and the commie’s Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Even other important officials of Allende's government were tracked down by Pinochet’s spooks DirecciĂłn de Inteligencia Nacional (DINA) under the supervision of Operation Condor. General Carlos Prats, Pinochet's predecessor and army commander under Allende, who had resigned rather than support the Machiavellian scheme  of his successor against the Allende's Government, was assassinated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1974. A year later, the murder of 119 opponents abroad was disguised as an internal conflict, the DINA setting up a propaganda campaign to support this idea (Operation Colombo), a campaign publicised by the leading newspaper in Chile, El Mercurio.

(Send comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Bolo Hills Tops My Bucket List

By Toots Orfinada

Given the chance to be a tourist or a guest in Alaminos City, by all means Bolo Hills at Bolo Beach, Brgy. Pandan, will be the run-away winner for my choice of spending a most treasured “staycation”.

Bolo Hills at Bolo Beach, Brgy. Pandan in Alaminos City.


First and foremost, it's location is one hell of a factor to reckon. It has nearly all the elements that makes- up an idyllic or perfect place to stay. It has the sea and the beach courtesy of the historic Lingayen Gulf, drawing a visual cum, er, come on of an expansive panoramic seascape, curtained as a backdrop further beyond by the majestic horizons of the mountains of the Cordilleras. In my years in tourism promotions and marketing which includes furtherance in sunrises and sunsets as part of tourism packages: Bolo Hills caters the best coffee and breakfast sunrise perspective.

Bolo Hills at Bolo Beach, Brgy. Pandan

Another reason why I prefer Bolo Hills, is its proximity to the Hundred Islands. So near is it to the Park so that you can even trail hike to Camantilles Island, which is Hundred Islands southernmost island. (FYI: Hundred Islands is geographically part of Sitio Bolo in Brgy. Pandan). Incidentally, Bolo Beach is the best alternative tourism of the coastal city, during "gale-warning seasons," or when trips to the Hundred Islands are controlled by the weather. Bolo Beach awaits stranded tourists to compensate for the misfortune of not proceeding to the islands and, during these times Bolo Hills plays a major part in reciprocating for their unfortunate predicament because Bolo Hill spells fun and excitement.

Food comes next. A tourism sojourn done almost by everyone can never be considered delightful and memorable (besides “mediable” or, as we say, “instagrammable”), if food entree is amiss. In fact, around 50% of any tourism trip or activity is always consumed by experiencing food tourism. Bolo Hills does not fall short in this class, because its food directory was globally prepared with up-to-date culinary expertise. It shows a multi- global menu, safe for every one regardless of religious, political or social restrictions. At present, it showcases Korean Sangyup and sea foods’ bonanza, the latter being done by the famous Sea foods trend setting chain of restos, " Above Sea Level" where its other branch is in Baywalk, Lingayen.



Other considerations include wide span of an exclusive beach playground and parking lot. A hushed and silent environment and above all, it still permanently connected with the mainland via a well-paved road. Services from the staff and management are well-handled and taken care of, with no less than the owners , Mr. and Mrs. Greg Lacuata, personally taking part in nearly all the resorts undertakings, including waitering - a signature display of humility and sincere clientele service - Me and my family experienced this rare corporate move last night, with no less than owner Mr. Greg delivering a portion of foodies on our table, giving chills in my spine, thinking na napamahal ang bayad, hehehe, on the contrary dagdag discount pala sa Senior Citizen I.Ds namin  ng sister ko Kathleen OrFa hahaha! T.Y po!


Indeed, split moments of my going there for the last six times have enticed me to write this article. it's not the discounts (people in the know, know that I am not fond of this, in fact I hate it. I don't even use my senior citizen’s ID on my groceries and medicines, sometimes hotels and Restos but not the whole time (sa pilahan iyan malimit, hahaha!) it’s not the free ride but it's more on my appreciation and enthusiasm on nice things done in our tourism industry and other elating and laudable subjects especially directed and dedicated to my hometown Alaminos City. This era may never come again so like Bolo Hills, let's move along guys, let's make Alaminos City, a Tourism Mecca. I like it here gee whiz! Definitely, I love Bolo Hills.



43 P’sinan Towns Fete with SGFH

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 DAGUPAN CITY -  Forty- three local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan have been awarded with the prestigious Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH) by the Department of Interior & Local Government for complying with the accounting and auditing standards and rules and regulations.


Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH) Awardees: From top left and clockwise photos are Lingayen Mayor Pol Bataoil, Manaoag Mayor Ming Rosario, Rosales Mayor William Cezar, Alcala Mayor Jojo Callejo, Urbiztondo Mayor Moding Operana, Sta. Barbara Mayor Lito Zaplan, San Fabian Mayor Marlyn Agbayani and Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe Parayno.

According to a document signed by Bureau of Local Government Supervision OIC Director Debie V. Torres, CESO V, the LGUs are Agno, Aguilar, Alcala, Anda, Asingan, Balungao, Bani, Basista, Bautista, Bayambang, Binalonan, Binmaley, Bolinao, Bugallon, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Labrador, Laoac, Lingayen, Mabini, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Mapandan, Natividad, Pozorrubio, Rosales, San Fabian, San Jacinto, San Manuel, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Sta. Barbara, Sto. Tomas, Santa Maria, Sison, Sual, Tayug, Umingan, Urbiztondo and Villasis.

The requirements for passing the SGFH are: (1) the most recent available Commission on Audit (COA) audit opinion and (2) compliance with the Full Disclosure Policy by posting all required financial documents in three conspicuous places and in the FDP portal.

 The SGFH is one of the three core components to hurdle the most challenging award body’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) where an LGU should pass all the three components of Good Financial Housekeeping, Disaster Preparedness, and Social Protection and one of the three essential components in either of the business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order and environmental management. It is dubbed as “3 + 1”.

Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH) Awardees: From top left and clockwise photos are Basista Mayor J.R Resuello, Bayambang Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao, Labrador Mayor Ernie Acain and Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera.

The achievement of a province, city, or province of the Good Housekeeping component means that the local government can be allowed to contract bank loans and access more national government funding such as the Bottom-Up Budgeting Program (the precursor of the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities program). The financial incentives for local government passers are indispensable because most local governments are still highly dependent on their national tax allotment (NAT) (the successor of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) ) which is the automatic share of local government budgets from the national budget, and are not fully able to generate local income to sustain their basic administrative and service delivery functions.

 The increasing awareness of LGU officials about the technicalities of service delivery laws was an added value by itself. The motivation that makes public officials strive to hurdle the SGFH and the SGLG was the prestige and the “peer pressure”. Local governments put up big tarpaulins announcing their SGLG win particularly in their localities, as a testament to their performance. Governors and mayors would confer with each other if each had won their Seals otherwise they would be pressured to “not get left behind”. It is a race for exemplary local government performance.

Friday, February 3, 2023

Another Columnist of this Newspaper Dies

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

When I texted last January 26 fire and brimstone’s Preacher Arnel Montemayor, whose nom de plume in Northern Watch as columnist was Munting Isko, to send his column for our January 29 – February 5 issue, there was no response from him. His last op-ed article in the previous week was only two-paragraph where half of them were cornucopia of verses of the Bible.

His last post cum opinion at Facebook was livid against the secretary of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrad Estrelle – his friend – whom (the young woman) he said shouted at him at the phone when he could not get the P20, 000 financial aid personally because he was bedridden in Villaflor Hospital in Dagupan City.

The late Northern Watch Newspaper's columnist Arnel Montemayor (extreme left) in one of our visits at the office of his friend the young Basista Mayor J. R Resuello (center).

“Begging for her favor to find a little time like five minutes for that bank thing, she instead shouted at me on the phone by saying: HINDI MO NA MAKUKUHA ITONG PERA! She would return it to my dear friend Secretary Conrad. This was an assailable grave abuse of discretion by an arrogant staff of a high government official – BASTOS!” this was the excerpt of the post of Arnel that was titled Open Letter to Sec. Conrad Estrella, III.

***

In January 30, his former neighbor in Lingayen Silvester Rayos – who just arrived from California – messaged me in Facebook: Kuya Arnel died. He was 67 years old.

Arnel’s second wife Aurelia – a young beautiful public school teacher – told me in Messenger that “Pancreatic cancer na po. Kaya kahit gustong gusto po namin siya gumaling mismong siya gustong gusto gumaling, di na po kaya ng katawan niya. Wala po daw nagsusurvive sa pancreatic cancer sabi ng doctor,” she told me the caused of death of this newspaper’s op-ed writer who expired at  9: 05 a.m of January 30 at Villaflor Hospital in Dagupan City.

The family and Arnel did not know he had a cancer until the doctor in Villaflor discovered during that check-up two weeks ago that the Big C had metastasized to other parts of his body. 

His interment was held at 7 a.m in Salvacion Cemetery in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

***

Arnel was introduced to me by Northern Watch Columnist Vir or Virgilio Maganes sometimes in year 2018 or 2019. Maganes as everybody knows survive his first assassination in November 7, 2016 but succumbed to the volley of bullets from the paid hitman in November 10, 2020 as he was entering the compound of his residence in Villasis, Pangasinan.

Although Arnel could be seen as zealot in defending the stocks of the Marcoses, a nemesis of the Corona Virus -19 vaccine he dubbed as creation of the 666 (darn, he remained unvaccinated till his death), and apologist of Pangasinan new governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III where he drew swords in a lengthy Facebook’s posts debate with those who disagreed with him either in politics or religion, Arnel was still an amiable friend to many like this author.

He would invite pals who visited the office of Vice Governor Mark Lambino whenever these guys – mostly media men – to have a free lunch at one of the canteens in the capitol in Lingayen charged to the office of Lambino. He was a consultant with a monthly pay in that office.

I was impressed about how he built those bonds with mayors and high officials like Estrella despite being plucked to the media industry for only a few years. He became the advisers and attack dog of these hizzoners and those candidates for the mayorships where he could easily ask them for sums that he would even deliver to the homes of these reporters.

I became friend of Aguilar Mayor Boyet Sagles in 2021 year--because I texted Arnel – my columnist already in Northern Watch Newspaper (I was its Editor-in-Chief) - to call the Mayor for an interview with him after I was done with my business transaction in Mangatarem. Later on, Mayor Sagles was on the phone while I was driving my car and told me he was waiting for my presence at his office.

Another young Mayor that I befriended told me that Arnel would be visiting his office with some media men in tow. The Hizzoner is known to be financially generous, acceded to the request of Prof. Arnel – as I called him – to have their beck wetted.

He was generous. Even if he was cash strapped he still looked for ways to give a friend who was needy,” his widow Aurelia told me when I visited the wake at Heritage Chapel in Barangay Maniboc in Lingayen last Friday dusk.

(Send comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)