Calasiao Fiesta 2024

 

 Together with the Calasiao’s police, firemen, association of chaplains, personnel of the local government, Mayor Kevin Roy Q. Macanlalay (extreme right) and Vice Mayor Nestor Gabrillo (extreme left) lead the distribution of the certificates of recognition valuable contributions of the chairpersons of the events for the 2024 Calasiao Town Fiesta. The distribution is held in the public gymnasium of the first class town. Photo credit: Aliguas Calasiao

Magiging City ang San Fabian – Agbayani

MATAPOS DUMAGSA ANG MGA BIG TRADERS DITO

Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

SAN FABIAN, Pangasinan – Pagkatapos pumasok ang mga malalaking negosyo dito, nakikinita ng dating alkalde na sa malapit na panahon maging siyudad na rin ang kanyang baybaying bayan.

“Marami na iyan, magiging city na ito,” ani Vice Mayor Constante “Danny” Agbayani na dating siyam na taon na alkalde dito bago siya palitan ng maybahay niya na si Mayor Marlyn.

San Fabian Mayor Marlyn Agbayani (3rd from right) poses for posterity at her office with the officers of U.S food chain's McDonald's in Pangasinan leads by their chief Cherry Moulic-Ocho (extreme right) for the openning of the store in May 27, 2024 at the town. Photo credit: Mayor Agbayani

Tinutukoy ni Agbayani ang pagdagsa dito ng mga malalaking negosyo tulad ng U.S fast food’s McDonald’s, CSI Mall, mga gasolinahan at ang brewery at pier na U.S$1 billion (P58 billion) na pag-aari ng San Miguel Corporation (SMC).

“Sabi nila 2025 daw ang massive na construction,”, aniya sa pagbukas ng SMC sa susunod na taon kung saan kukuha ito ng tatlong libong manggagawa.

Uunahin ni SMC na gagawin ang BMEG Feeds at pier niya.

Gumastos na ng bilyong pesos ang higanting korporasyon sa pagbili ng mga lupain ng mga tao malapit sa tabing dagat ng Barangays Bolasi at Mabilao sa pamamagitan ng expropriation para matayuan ng imprastraktura nila.

Ang bayan na ito ay may annual budget na P307 milyon ngayong taon. Noong nakaraang taon meron siyang P287 milyon.

Kung tama ang tantiya ng writer na ito, one-fourth o P76, 700, 000 sa P307 million ay malilikom ng bayan na ito ay local taxes ngayong taon habang iyong iba galing sa national tax allotment (NTA) – ang dating internal revenue allotment (IRA).

Lulubo ang local taxes dito pag nagsimula  ng magbayad ang mga negosyante sa pangunguna ni SMC ng mga business at real property taxes nila. Tulad ng Sual – pinakamayaman na bayan sa Pangasinan - na kumikita ng mahigit kumulang sa tatlong daan milyon kada taon na local na buwis na business at real property taxes sa 1,200 megawatts' coal power plant doon kung saan nahihigitan  niya ang NTA na ayuda sa kanya kada taon. Meron siyang budget ngayong taon na P520 million.

Kung gusto maging siyudad ng San Fabian ay kailangan niya ang mga sumusunod:

Pag-apruba ng Congress; kung saan majority ng botante ay sangayon na ang San Fabian ay maging siyudad sa isang plebisito na pinangangasiwaan ng Comelec; P100 million na local taxes sa huling magkasunod na dalawang taon; population na hindi baba sa 150 thousand o 100 square kilometers na lupain.

Gusto ng mga bayan maging siyudad dahil kakaunti lang silang maghahati-hati ng NTA o IRA galing sa national government kada taon kaya lalong lalaki ang mga pondo nila.

 Ang NTA o IRA ay hinahati-hati sa 20 percent para sa provinces, 23 percent para cities, 34 percent para municipalities, at 20 percent para sa barangays.

Ang San Fabian ay may population at land area na 87,428 (2020 Census) at 81.28 square kilometers o 31.38 square miles. Ang laki ng lupain ay di na kailangan basta makuha lang ang 150 population at P100 million local taxes kada taon na kuleksiyon.

DTI Praises Guicos for Ushering P’nan Goods for World Market

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

WORLD TRADE CENTER, Pasay City – An official of the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) lauded Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III and his mother Arlyn Guico for ushering businessmen to join the International Food Expo (IFEX) held here recently.

“I’m very thankful to the provincial government to Governor Monmon Guico, siyempre si Maam Arllyn Guico and the rest of the provincial government na fully supported iyong ating activity,” Provincial Director Natalie B. Dalaten of the DTI - Pangasinan told reporters.

VAUNTED Pangasinan products being displayed at the booth of the province in the three-day International Food Expo (IFEX) held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

With the help of entrepreneur Rosemarie Oamil, the chief executive officer of luxury brand Mele + Marie, Mrs. Guico established in October 19-21, 2023 here the Artisan Empowerment Association, which equips budding artisans and entrepreneurs with capacity-building resources like mentorship and training programs. Mrs. Guico tapped 10 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase their world-class “Made in Pangasinan” products at the World Trade Center.

 Dalaten said as a first time participant of the IFEX for 2024, Pangasinan vaunted products have been given exposure to hit the world market.

“Yes. If naalaala niyo iyong ibang noong exporters notice if all started here”.

One of the advantages of participating in the IFEX, according to Dalaten, the traders are listed in the roster of suppliers in the international markets. The other was the business-to-business (B to B) meeting to importers who were in attendance on the three days’ exhibitions.

IFEX Philippines is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition on the Philippines’ and Asia's ethnic and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery products, meat and poultry, Halal-certified products, as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products.

Since its inception originally as the Asian Ethnic Food Festival from 1999 to 2003, the body has provided B-to-B platform for local and international food companies to discover new markets, launch new products, and transact with the biggest importers in various parts of the world.

Photo credit: IFEX

The requirements needed for businessmen to join the IFEX, one is a single proprietorship, partnership, or a corporation. It needs to register like in the Security Exchange of Commission if one is a corporation, needs a license to operate, and a certificate of product registration (CPR).

Mostly, the CPR is applied at the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

Roan Rosario - President of Freshious Aquaculture and Food Products based in Binmaley, Pangasinan - said before the provincial government of Pangasinan joined the IFEX, she and businessmen in the province joined through the auspices of the DTI.

“We joined sa DTI before not under Pangasinan,” said to Northern Watch Newspaper by Freshious Vice President Steven Rosario – the husband of Roan.

Her husband said that they have four varieties of bangus products but they brought here their fully cooked ready- to-eat milkfish and their tinapang bangus

”You can eat it straight from the pack. Milk fish steak chips para siyang jerky – di ba pag beef jerky ito this is our milkfish jerky,” Roan told this writer about their ready to eat vacuum sealed milkfish.

The husband said the comparative advantage of the Pangasinan bangus competing in the world market is its inherently tastiest trait.

Evely Co, the owner of Huyang Food, said that despite her and her husband three years old Dagupan City based company, their milkfish products could be seen displayed at Robinsons branches all over the country, Market Places, and Royal Duty Free Shop, they still aspire to penetrate the world market,

Huyang employed as of this moment 10-20 workers mostly from Dagupan City.

According to Pangasinan Provincial Administrator Melicio F. Patague II – who represented the governor – Pangasinan showcased this year here ten homegrown products which are pride of its people.

“This is just the beginning of the great era of Pangasinan for food industry,” he disclosed to reporters.

Under Governor Guico, Patague stressed, MSMEs would be vigorously supported to make them competitive and formidable.

Dalaten said that the DTI hoped to see more exhibitors to join next year in the Pangasinan booth at the center here.

Huddling with DFA’s Top Guns on the Spratly’s Conundrum

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

I bumped into Assistant Secretary Roberto “Bobby” Ferrer, Jr. of the Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) at the booth of Pangasinan in the International Food Expo (IFEX) held last Friday at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

“O Bob kilala mo pa ako?”

“Siyempre si Mortz Ortigoza,” Philippines embassy in Russia former Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General and the illustrious son of Binmaley, Pangasinan told me.

ENVOY. Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega  (right) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). He was once the acting Secretary of the DFA and Ambassadors to Belgium and Mexico.

I first met him when was a graduating student of Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science in 1990 when I joined the teaching staff of the Social Science Department of the present Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City. He is the son of the late Pangasinan’s provincial lawmaker Roberto Ferrer, Sr.

Accompanying Ferrer was DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega who was once acting Secretary of the DFA and Ambassadors to Belgium and Mexico.

We have an animated conversation when I asked De Vega why not the Philippines military used a C-130 cargo plane to air drop provisions and repair materials to the beleaguered Marines holed in at the dilapidated navy ship's BRP Sierra Madre.

I cited to the duo how the American military delivered with success their stuffs thru low altitude parachute extraction system (LAPES) and ground proximity extraction system (GPES) at the Khe San aerial resupply mission in January 1968.

During that month the mountainous Khe San - the Dien Bien Phu’s version of the gung ho Americans – where guarded by 6,000 U.S Marines and South Vietnamese Rangers against 20, 000 armed to the teeth and blood smelling Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers. The enemies took control of the road where supplies like 1.5 million kilos of ammunition and armaments of the besieged allies passed by and six of their transport and combat helicopters and the runway had been destroyed by enemies’ artillery fires.

 “Why our military would not emulate the Americans” I posed.

“They have their own reason,” De Vega retorted as I told him about the incessant utilization of the resupply mission through civilian vessels but water cannoned by the bigger ships of the Chinese Coast Guard.

“Are our military continue to use the harassed resupply missions to put in bad light the Chinese before the bar of world’s opinion”?  I inquired.

“That’s probably the obvious reason,” the envoy answered.

Assistant Secretary Roberto “Bobby” Ferrer, Jr. (right) of the Department Foreign Affairs (DFA).  He used to be Philippines embassy in Russia former Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General and the illustrious son of Binmaley, Pangasinan.

I told them that incase a coast guard or a Marine die because of the dangerous maneuvering of the Chinese ships it will trigger the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) where the U.S military juggernaut comes to the succor of the lilliputian Armed Forces of the Philippines.

 De Vega nodded his head.

He has all ears when I opined that the Chinese is not yet prepared to wage war with the Americans as long as the dilemma of Malacca Strait’s choke point is not yet solved by Beijing.

The Strait is a narrow stretch of water, 500 miles long and from 40 to 155 miles wide, between the Malay Peninsula to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest, connecting the Andaman Sea and the South China Sea.

Malacca is where China’s seaborne import from the Middle East like the 10 million barrels (2019 data) per day crude oil passes to fuel her economy. Because of that the still growing People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) would not gamble to have a shooting war with the blue water navy of the United States of America especially through her nuclear subs that lurk stealthily and treacherously in the three trillion dollars a year South China Sea’s lane.

I told them in that huddle that incase President Ferdinand Marcos succumbed to the pressure of threat of a coup from the military – ala Erap Estrada's presidency – and he stepped down from office because of that narcotics brouhaha with actress Maricel Soriano, the U.S government would not allow China friendly Vice President Sara Duterte – whose former president father cozied up with Beijing – to succeed as the country’s Commander-in-Chief.

“Do you remember what happened to the bachelor Presidents Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam and Salvador Allende?” I posed

“Of Chile,” Bobby retorted.

They were victims of a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) inspired coup d’état where the military replaced the civilian government because Diem became abusive to the Buddhists, his dictatorial tendency, and enmeshed himself to corruption and favoritism through his younger brother and chief political adviser’s Ngo Dinh Nhu and his wife the prolifigate Madame Nhu that could prejudice the U.S war against the USSR and China through their puppets North Vietnam and the Vietcong while Allende was a Marxist that could undermine the U.S business interest in South America.

“Kalian ka maging Ambassador (When are you going to be an Ambassador)?” I asked Assistant Secretary Ferrer in the vernacular.

“Bahala na si Sir kung kelan niya gusto (It’s up to Undersecretary De Vega when he wants me to be an Ambassador) as he glanced playfully to De Vega.

“Mga after one year puede na siya maging Ambassador,” the high official bantered.

“I doffed my hat to career officials like you who rose from the rank and to your present perches compare to those presidential appointees who were generals, average thinking newsmen, politicians, and others being appointed as ambassadors where some of them did not know the nuances – mga walang alam ang mga p*tang ina! - of the mandate,” I told the amused De Vega as he and Ferrer bid goodbye to end the huddle.

Oh by the way, the amiable De Vega possesses the following credentials:  Master in National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines (2004-2005), post graduate studies in International Relation at Escuela Diplomatica de Madrid (1993-1994), and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines – Diliman (1986-1991) where he passed the Bar examination in 1991.

Damn! How can a retired Army or Police General, politician, or an average opining columnist deals with seasoned foreign diplomats without those attainments like what former acting DFA Secretary Ed de Vega can swasbuckle?

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

It’s the U.S not the Colombians that destroyed Escobar

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 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.

Bumaba ang Katay sa Mangaldan Slaughter House

 Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – Dahil sa taas ng presyo at pagdagsa ng mga imported frozen na karne bumaba ang katay ng pinakamalaking bahay–katayan  sa Pangasinan dito.

Ayon kay slaughterhouse Master IV Flora Serrana, sa ngayon ay meron lamang silang kinakatay na mahigit 60 na baboy, 19 – 22 kalabaw at 2-3 na baka kada araw dito sa double A’s na slaughter house.

CARCASSES of swine  are hung after being slaughtered at an abattoir in the Philippines (Photo is internet grabbed).

"Last month mga meron iyong market day halimbawa Friday nagkakatay kami noong last month ng 80-89," ani Serrano sa baboy. 

Aniya siya ay hinirang ni Mayor Bona Fe Parayno na mamuno sa bahay-katayan dito noong November 1, 2023.

Dati rati hangang  25 na kalabaw kada araw ang kinakatay dito pero ito ay nabawasan dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo at pagpasok ng mga imported na frozen na karne.

Malakas ang katayan ng kalabaw dito dahil sa pigar-pigar delicacy na dinudumog ng mga parokyano sa Dagupan City. Ang pigar-pigar ay gawa sa deep-frying ng mga hiniwa na karne ng kalabaw kasama ang repolyo at sibuyas. Dito unang nagsimula ang pigar-pigar na tinatawag hanggang ngayon na bengbeng pero sumikat sa karatig siyudad ng Dagupan.

Ang mga kalabaw na dinadala dito sa abattoir ay nanggagaling pa sa Southern Luzon at Visaya. Ang bahay katayan dito ay nag siserbisyo sa Dagupan at mga karatig bayan dito.

Dalawa o tatlong baka lang ang nakakatay dito araw araw dahil si Brgy. Nibalew Chairmn Richard Barrozo na may puwesto sa Dagupan City ay hinahango ang mga karne niya sa Baguio City, ayon kay Serrana.

CLASS AAA SLAUGHTER HOUSE?

Determinado si Mayor Parayno  na magkaroon ng isang Class 'AAA' slaughterhouse upang lalo pang pagbutihin ang lokal na industriya ng karne dito.

Nagsagawa na ng benchmarking at study tour noong isang taon sa mga kilalang Class 'AAA' accredited slaughterhouses sa Pilipinas ang pangasiwaan ni Parayno.
Kabilang sa mga ni benchmarking ay ang mga Class 'AAA' accredited bahay katayan gaya ng Tarlac Meatmasters ng Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation na matatagpuan sa Bamban, Tarlac, at ang Red Dragon Farm Feed, Livestock, and Foods, Inc. na matatagpuan sa lalawigan ng Pampanga.

Kasalukuyang ginagawa ang paghahanda ng lokal na pamahalaan para sa pagproseso ng aplikasyon para sa financial grant na iniaalok ng Philippine Rural Development Project sa pamamagitan ng Department of Agriculture (DA). 
 
Kung ipagkakaloob ang nasabing pondo ay ilalaan ito para sa muling pagtatayo at pagpapalawak ng lokal na bahay katayan na may layuning makakuha ng akreditasyon bilang Class 'AAA' slaughterhouse.
 
Ayon kay Dr. Orlando Ongsotto,  National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) Ilocos regional director, hanggang ngayon ay wala pang accredited Class ‘AAA’ na slaughter house sa bansa na pagmamay-ari o kontrolado ng gobyerno. 
 
Karamihan sa mga nasabing abattoir ay pinamamahalaan ng mga pribadong negosyo.
 
Ani Parayno, “Kung kaya nila [private-owned corporations] na mag-operate ng class 'AAA' slaughterhouse, I am sure that with everybody's help, we can also achieve this goal to be the first government-owned Class 'AAA' accredited abattoir sa buong Pilipinas.” 

Guico's Proj. in Urdaneta

 Another multi-purpose building has been created under the administration of Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III at Brgy. San Vicente in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. The covered court will be the center for the various activities of the village. (PIO’s Photo)

Tao ni Mayor Pinasisinungalingan si VM

 Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY, Pangasinan – Itinatangi ng personal secretary ng alkalde dito ang akusasyon ng bise alkalde na pinipilit nila pumirma ang budget officer sa isang katiwalaan na kinasasangkutan ng vice mayor.

Ani Leon Castro, Jr., si Budget Officer Jeffrey delos Angeles na nakaratay sa Nazareth Hospital sa Dagupan City ay classmate niya noong highschool sa Catholic school dito kaya siya pumunta doon para kamustahin ang kanyang kalagayan at hindi para puwersahin at takutin siyang pumirma sa affidavit na iyong isandaang drum na alcohol noong pandemic ay naglalaman ng tubig at pabango lang.

 

RAP & DENIAL. Office of the Mayor Secretary Leon “Elorde” Castro, Jr. (left photo), Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera, and Vice Mayor Sam Rosario. 

“Iyong mga abroad naman nag text sa akin mga barkada namin “tingnan mo ang sitwasyon ni Jeffrey kung ano ang maitulong namin” so nagpunta ako doon mga purpose na ganyan”.

Sa isang press conference na pinatawag ni Vice Mayor Sam Rosario ibinulgar niya na pumunta sa intensive care unit (ICU) room ni Delos Angeles  si Castro para pilitin at takutin ang huli na pumirma ng isang affidavit laban sa kay Rosario -15 taong alkalde dito.

“Budget officer paki pirmahan niyo itong affidavit. Si Jeffrey di magalaw ang mga kamay niya di na niya mabasa. “Ano ba iyan?” “Basta pirmahan mo na kung hindi mo mapirmahan ito sigurado hindi mo na makukuha ang iyong terminal leave pay” sabi ni Elorde (nickname of Castro),” pahayag ni Rosario.

 Noong pinabasa ni Delos Angeles ang affidavit sa kasama niya sa ospital at sinabi ang nilalaman na dinaya ni Rosario noong alkalde pa siya ang isandaang drums umalma si Delos Angeles.

“Di ko pwedeng pirmahan iyan dahil hindi totoo iyan,” paglalahad ni Rosario sa reaksiyon ng may sakit na budget officer

“Sige hindi mo makukuha ang terminal leave pay,” sabi daw ni Castro ayon sa bise alkalde.

“Maski di ko makuha iyan di ko pipirmahan iyan – that’s the exact words coming from Jeffrey,” sabi ni Vice Mayor.

Ani Castro sinabi noon pa ni Delos Angeles sa kanya na haka-haka ng mga empleyado na dinaya ni Rosario ang mga laman ng mga drum.

“Kung magpirma ako niyan ayaw ko ng pumirma diyan “two is enough”,”  kuento ng secretary at personal body guard ni Mayor Pete Merrera sa sagot ni Delos Angeles.

Ayaw naman sabihin ni Castro sa diyaryong ito kung anong akusasyon ang "two is enough".

Sabi ni Castro tama lang naman si budget officer sa pagtangi niyang sumawsaw dahil haka-haka iyon. At sino naman daw siya aniya na pipilitin niyang pa pirmahin si Delos Angeles na mas mataas ang ranggo sa kanya.

Ani Secretary may plano na pala ang kasama ni Delos Angeles sa ospital na kunan sila ng larawan habang nagkukuentuhan silang mag classmate.

“So pinaupo ako nakatalikod ako. Kung may intensiyon ako pinaharap sana ako. Pinipilit ko si Jeffrey sa ospital puede ako arestuhin,” paliwanag ng personal assistant ni Mayor Merrera sa Northern Watch Newspaper.

Noong tanungin ng writer na ito kung sino ang kumuha ng photo nila, ani Castro:

“Iyong asawa niya siguro ang nagpicture sa akin hindi video iyon nakatalikod ako”.

Sabi ni Rosario sa press conference merong audio silang nakuha sa usapan ng dalawa pero hindi niya ito napadinig sa mga reporters na andoon.

“Naka audio pa iyan,” aniya sa meeting sa mga reporters sa Rufina’s  - restaurant na pag aari ng kanyang pamilya.

Ayon kay Rosario ang mga kasong nasasagap sa pangangasiwa ni Mayor Pedro Merrera ay “fishing expedition” at harassment dahil alam ng huli na magsasagupa uli sila sa May 12, 2025 mayorship election.

Noong May 9, 2016 at May 13, 2019 mayoralty contests tinalo ni Rosario si Merrera – na dating vice mayor noong 2016 to 2019 – ng P10, 000 at P6,000 na boto, ayon sa pagkakabanggit.

Noong May 9, 2022 election dahil hindi na siya pueding mag re-elect dahil sa nine years niya ng serbisyo, tumakbo laban kay Merrera ang anak niyang si Jonas – na noon ay President ng Liga ng mga Barangay.

Nanalo si Merrera sa botong 24, 379 samantalang si Jonas ay nakakuha lamang ng 18, 658 boto samantala si dating vice mayor Edgar Mamenta at Vincent Castro ay meron lamang 8,005 at  542 mga boto sa paligsahang pagka alkalde.

Pinabulaan ni Castro na gumaganti lamang siya kay Rosario matapos makasuhan ng Malversation of Public Properties sa pag- uudyok daw ni Rosario sa Regional Trial Court sa Lingayen, Pangasinan. Pagkatapos ng siyam na taon na asunto pinaburan ng Korte Suprema si Castro noong ibinasura ang kasong isinampa ni “Annie” na tao ni Rosario.

“Huwag niya akong e single out na ako lang ang nag file. Hindi lang naman ako nagpa-file na mag-isa ako. Si Jojo dating kasamahan niya si Douglas (delos Angeles nakakabatang kapatid ni Jeffrey)”.

Dagdag ni personal assistant na hindi “revenge” ang mga ginawa nila sa mga kasong isinampa nila sa Ombudsman kung hindi base lang sa “disallowance” ng Commission on Audit (COA) reports.

Ang nag tagumapy ay ang administrative case na grave misconduct na may docket no. OMB-L-A SEP-23-0162 sa Ombudsman kung saan nag double pay ng P4, 049, 195.58 si Rosario sa concrete slab sa three storey school building ng Department of Education. 

Inaantay pa ng Northern Watch Newspaper kung pumasok ang probable cause sa double pay ng slab sa criminal case na isinampa nila Castro kay Rosario.

Ani Rosario na sinampahan din si Merrera at ang anim na miyembrro ng Sangguniang Bayan ng kaso sa Ombudsman at ng administrative case sa Sanggunian Panlalawigan. Ayon kay Rosario ang kaso sa provincial board ni Merrera ay dahil ayaw niyang payagan na dumalo ang mga department heads sa hearing ng Sangguniang Bayan na pinamumunuan niya.

Gaya sa Dagupan City, masalimuot ang pulitika dito sa first class at coastal town na ito. Noong August 9, 2023 ay pinagsisigawan ni Rosario si Merrera noong pumasok siya sa Sanggunian para tulungan sa pagpaliwanag si Delos Angeles sa pag re-revert ng alkalde sa planong pagbili ng P39 million heavy equipment’s Excavator kapalit sa paglipat ng halaga sa P71 million na urgent proposed supplemental budget sa mga social services dito.

“I will not give my respect kasi nagsasalita ka e! YOU GET OUT HERE! (Habang malakas na pinapalo ang sound block ng wooden gavel). YOU GET OUT HERE!” sigaw ni Rosario kay Merrera.

FEMALE VOICE: Point of order!

VICE MAYOR: This is Sangguniang Bayan (inaudible), O common!

FEMALE VOICE: Point of order let's stopped it!

VICE MAYOR: You're not under us! Huwag mong ipakita na hawak mo kami dito. NO!

(Habang malakas na pinapalo ang sound block ng wooden gavel).

MAYOR: No, no, no!

VICE MAYOR: GO OUT! I tell you to go out!

U.S wouldn’t Allow Sara to Assume in case Marcos Resigns (?)

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

Granted that public uproar and the threat of a coup d’tat because of the March 11, 2012 report that incriminated him on alleged narcotics usage and succumbed Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to resign from his post, would you think the United States government would allow his logical successor Vice President Sara Duterte to assume power?

The scenarios I wrote above came from the brouhaha of the April 30, 2024 hearing by the Senate’s Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa that invited sacked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) investigating agent Jonathan Morales, the brass of the PDEA headed by Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo, and other resources persons on the authenticity of the March 11, 2012’s Authority to Operate and Pre-Operation Report implicating President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., actress Maricel Soriano, and others at Unit 4-C, Rizal Tower Building, Rockwell in Makati City where they have alleged narcotics session.

Philippines and U.S soldiers in one of their countless military exercises held somewhere in Luzon to buttress their skills against enemies like Mainland China. Photo by U.S. Army  Sgt. 1st Class John Etheridge

Morales – who signed the two documents - collaborated the expose’ of anti – Marcos and Duterte friendly U.S based Filipino vlogger Claire Contreras alias Maharlika on the veracity of the photo copies of the docs. In the interview by Maharlika with Morales, both discussed too the five photos attached to the documents of the then Senator Marcos, the actress and company that could incriminate them.

In case the photos circulate online for all and sundry to see, would they be the last nail of the coffin to end the Marcos, Jr. Administration?

Let’s go back now to my poser at the first paragraph of this op-ed article.

Would the U.S allow Vice President Duterte to succeed as what the Philippines Constitution mandates upon the resignation of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the military and the police?

With the belligerent China on the U.S $3 trillion a year (Reuter 2024) trade sea lane in the South China Sea that benefit the U.S, East Asia and the Southeast Asian countries and the safety of Taiwan being threatened by China at the 200 kilometers Luzon Strait, a Duterte – accused by critics as Manchurian Candidate – in Malacanang could be abhorrable with Uncle Sam.

When Sara’s father became the country’s president, he became friendly with Beijing while being critical with Washington.

Filipinos are bothered with the deafening silence of the Vice President on the incessant abuses done to the Filipinos by the Chinese Coast Guards at the Scarborough Shoals (seized by China from the Philippines in 2012) and the Ayungin Shoal where a warship BRP Sierra Madre was intentionally grounded in 1999 by the Philippines military and manned by its Marines after the Chinese built a military structure in the nearby Mischief Reef.

INTERFERENCE

How could the United States government interfere in case the President resigns?

I’ll give you the scenarios when the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) abet the assassination done by the military of two sitting head of states because one of them was pro-Communist and sought alliance with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the other became abusive to his people while waging war against the Reds. All these happened because they threatened the American business interest in the region.

CHILE

Salvador Allende was a Chilean politician who served as the first Marxist and the 28th president of Chile from 1970 until his death in 1973. 

 He won the presidency as the candidate of the Popular Unity coalition in a close three-way race. Allende – a former senator, deputy and cabinet minister of democratic Chile - was elected in a run-off by Congress as no candidate had gained a majority. He pursued a policy called "The Chilean Way to Socialism". Allende sought to nationalize major industries (a no-no to laissez faire conscious U.S), expand education, and improve the living standards of the working class but the coalition government was far from unanimous because the Senate and the Supreme Court were critical of his policies.

In 2000, the CIA admitted its role in the 1970 kidnapping of General René Schneider who refused to use the army to stop Allende's inauguration (Briscoe, David  September 20, 2000. "CIA Admits Involvement in Chile". ABC News). On September 11, 1973, the military ousted Allende in a CIA supported coup d'état ("Chile: The Bloody End of a Marxist Dream". Time. September 24, 1973). As troops surrounded La Moneda Palace, he gave his last speech vowing not to resign. Later that day, Allende died allegedly by suicide in his office. Besides his corpse was an AK-47 assault rifle given to him as a gift by Cuba’s Communist President Fidel Castro. It bore a golden plate inscription: "To my friend and comrade-in-arms, Fidel Castro”.  Following Allende's death, General Augusto Pinochet refused to return authority to a civilian government while he governed through military junta until 1989.

VIETNAM

Ngô Đình Diệm was the final prime minister of the State of Vietnam (1954–1955) and later the first president of South Vietnam from 1955 until his capture and assassination during the CIA-backed 1963 South Vietnamese coup.

In 1963, Diệm's favoritism towards Catholics and persecution of practitioners of Buddhism in Vietnam led to the Buddhist crisis. The event damaged relations with the United States – enmeshed with war against the USSR and Mainland China funded communist North Vietnam and insurgent’s Vietcongs - and other previously sympathetic countries, and his organization lost favor with the leadership of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. On  November 1, 1963, the country's leading generals launched a coup d'état with assistance from the Central Intelligence Agency. Diệm and his brother Nhu, initially escaped, but were captured the following day. They were assassinated at the back of an M113 armored personnel carrier with a bayonet and revolver by Captain Nguyễn Văn Nhung, under orders from General Dương Văn Minh (who later headed the Junta) given while en route to the Vietnamese Joint General Staff headquarters (Bui, D.; Chanoff, D. (1999). In the Jaws of History. Vietnam War Era Classics Series. Indiana University Press).

POORLY FUNDED PH MILITARY AND THE U.S AID

For this year the Armed Forces of the Philippines has a budget of ₱285.690 billion (US$ 5.10 billion) or merely 0.98% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The United States military aid from years 2015 to 2022, the Manila government received more than $1.14 billion worth of aircraft, armored vehicles, small arms, equipment and training, $475 million of it in aid.

A U.S Senate Bill called Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 (PERA Act) was filed by U.S Senators William Francis Hagerty (R - TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VG) that seeks US$500 million a year in foreign military financing (FMF) for Manila from 2025 through 2029 or a total of US$2.5 billion for five years.

The bipartisan measure was introduced a day before (April 10) the trilateral summit in Washington D.C. of U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Marcos.

POSER

My quiry: Incase Marcos heeds the people and the military pressure to resign, who would lead the Junta backed up by Uncle Sam?

Resuello Hails Cojuangco for AICS

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BASISTA, Pangasinan – The mayor of this landlocked town lauded Pangasinan 2^nd District Cong. Mark O. Cojuangco for his intercession with the national government for the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) for the people here.

AICS. Pangasinan 2^nd District Cong. Mark O. Cojuangco (left photo) and Basista Mayor Jolly R. Resuello speak before their constituents in Basista on the distribution of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) for 263 tanods or barangay police officers.

Resuello said the AICS have been given lately to the tanods or barangay police officers through the Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) officers Jason Victorio and Ms. Alicia B. Aquino held at the municipal gymnasium here.

The distribution of the AIC ensued too with the residents of Urbiztondo town who came here.

The mayor said there were 263 recipients from the DSWD for this town he dubbed as individuals in crisis situation.

Other guests that witnessed the dole outs were the members of this municipality’s lawmaking body, village chiefs, Urbiztondo Vice Mayor Voltaire Balolong, and Urbiztondo Former Mayor Martin Raul S. Sison II.

On the same occasion, Cong. Cojuangco distributed too t-shirts and special sandwiches to the beneficiaries of the AICS.

Meanwhile, The Basista Tourism Office and the local government here collaborated to develop Ulupay Managgaway Kakanin ed Basista (U-MAKE), an association of native food producers whose sumptuous products are of high quality and sourced from the labors of the people here.

According to the tourism office, the products of the U-MAKE are reasonably priced, freshly prepared, and hygienic—a staple of Filipino feasts and staple foods that customers would surely relish.

The mission of U-MAKE is to help Basistans land for employment and give them additional revenue to meet their daily needs.

Mayor Congratulates Newly Crowned Miss P’sinan 2024

 LINGAYEN, Pangasinan —Pozorrubians take pride in congratulating their very own maiden, Lyha Yzhienne M. Laylo, for winning the major title in the Grand Coronation Night for Limgas na Pangasinan 2024 last April 26.

MISS PANGASINAN. Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III (extreme right) applauds as spouse First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico (2^nd from right) congratulates Miss Lyha Yzhienne M. Laylo of Pozzorubio who was declared winner in the Grand Coronation Night for Limgas na Pangasinan 2024 held in April 6 at the Capitol Complex in Lingayen, Pangasinan. The beauty and brains from Pozorrubio will represent Pangasinan in the prestigious national tilt, Miss World Philippines.

In the Facebook account of the Local Government Unit, Mayor Kelvin Chan expressed gratitude to the newly-crowned sea festival queen by stating, “With all pride and highest commendation, we congratulate you, Ms. Laylo, for winning the crown! ”

The beauty and brains from Pozorrubio will represent Pangasinan in the prestigious national tilt, Miss World Philippines.

Jenesse Viktoria D. Mejia of Malasiqui and Pearline Joy M. Bayog of Lingayen were adjudged Limgas na Pangasinan 2024-Grand and Limgas na Pangasinan 2024-Mutya, respectively.

Aside from the huge prizes at stake for the ladies, each of the three Local Government Units (LGUs) they represent will also be awarded P1 million worth of tourism-related projects for their towns

Joining the three title holders were Limgas na Sta. Barbara Izzy Nina V. Bernardino, 1st runner-up; Limgas na Urbiztondo Rebecca Rose P. Ayuban, 2nd runner-up; and Limgas na Binalonan, Paulie Alexa F. Camat, 3rd runner-up.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico, also the honorary chairperson of Limgas na Pangasinan, commended the candidates as she encouraged them to serve as the epitome of Pangasinense women whose beauty is beyond aesthetics.

Governor Ramon V. Guico III, in his inspirational message, expressed elation in the transformation of Limgas na Pangasinan under the stewardship of the First Lady as he likened the ‘Mother of All Pageants’ in Pangasinan to the envisioned massive transformation of the Capitol Complex and its environs in the offing.

Stating that Limgas na Pangasinan is the highlight of the Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival), Gov. Guico thanked the local chief executives for their all-out support to the pageant by sending their representative.

Aside from the major titles, minor awards were given on coronation night. These are as follows: Miss Friendship: Pearline Joy M. Bayog (Lingayen); Best in Swimsuit: Jenesse Viktoria D. Mejia (Malasiqui); Best in Creative Costume: Diana Mae Pangan (Calasiao); Smart Texters’ Choice: Yra Mae Secretario (San Manuel); Darling of the Press: Best in Talent and Best in Evening Gown: Lyha Yzhienne M. Laylo (Pozorrubio); Miss Photogenic: Andrea R. Cayabyab and Best Artist Video; Best Advocacy Video: Reeven L. Sabado (Umingan);.

The event was hosted by no less than Miss Supranational 2023 1st runner-up Pauline Amelinckx and Kapuso artist Martin Javier and was graced by another Kapuso star, Derrick Monasterio, as a serenader. (PIO News)

 

 

40-K Katao Dumagsa sa Concert ni Bamboo, Skusta, Flow-G

 Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Dinumog ng mga 40,000 katao ang huli ng limang araw na libreng konsiyerto ng mga local at national bands dito na tinuldukan ni iconic rock and pop singer Bamboo Mañalac, Skusta Clee, Flow-G, at iba.

SEA OF HUMANITY. Iconic rock and pop Filipino’s warbler Bamboo Mañalac wowed the sea of humanity with his singing prowess at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center during the nighttime grand shindig of the Asinan Music and Arts Festival 2024 held in May 1 this year. Bamboo Music Live

Ang fusion ng Asinan Music and Arts Festival 2024 ay inisyatiba ni Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico.

Sa kanyang Facebook post, sinabi ng First Lady: “A promise made is a promise kept. Last year, we made a promise na magkakaroon tayo ng sariling Music Festival.”

Ayon sa mataas na opisyal ng Kapitolyo ng Pangasinan, mga 35, 000 hanggang 40,000 na katao ang dumagsa magmula alas 4 ng hapon hanggang mag hatingabi ng May 1 sa Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) dito.

Halos punuan ang mga upuan ng complex at parang binahayan ng mga langgam ang Olympic size na rubberized athletic track oval ng NRSCC.

LUMINARIES. Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico III (2^nd from right), spouse Maan Tuazon-Guico (3^rd from left and who heads the Asinan Music and Arts Festival and Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival), Board Members Jan Louie Quitlong Sison and Chinky Perez (extreme left and 2^nd from left) and the author (extreme right) pose for posterity before the start of the concert of Bamboo, Skusta Clee, Flow-G, and others at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Ang mga dumalo para mapanood ang final concert ay nanggaling pa sa mga bayan at siyudad ng Pangasinan at karatig probinsiya gaya ng Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, at La Union.

Hindi- kasali sa bilang ang mga libo-libong nanood ng live stream na pinalabas sa Facebook ng public information office na pinamumunuan ni Mr. Dhobbie de Guzman – dating regional manager ng ABS-CBN sa Northern Luzon.

Noong 1 pm to 6 Pm noong araw na iyon ay gumamit ang provincial government ng shuttle buses para magsakay sa mga taong nanggaling pa sa ibat-ibang lugar at bumaba sa Maramba Boulevard dito para masilayan ang concert sa NRSCC. 11 Pm hanggang 12 midnight sinakay uli sila ng mga buses pabalik sa Maramba Boulevard.

Dala ang kanyang katangi-tanging eherhiya inawit ni iconic warbler Bamboo ang mga sikat na kanta niyang Tatlusok, Noypi, Mr. Clay, These Days, Hallelujah, Probinsiya, at iba pa.

Ayon sa source binayaran ng P2 million si Bamboo, at daandaang libo sina Skusta Clee at Flow-G para maibigay lang ng magasawang Guico ang saya sa mga nasasakupan nila sa Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) ng Pangasinan sa taon na ito.

“Dati rati kumakanta lang iyang Skusta Clee at Flow-G sa District 5 (bar) sa Urdaneta City sa halagang tig P10,000 to P20,000 kada banda na mangagaling pa sa Manila. Pero tingnan ninyo sila ngayon dinudumog ng mga kabataan ang mga kanta nila,” ani ng source.

Noong palabas na ang dalawang banda patungo sa sasakyan nila, sila ay napapalibutan ng mga security personnel ng production na humahawi sa mga nagaabang at di magkamayaw na humihiyaw na mga lalaki, babae, at mga baklang teenagers na fans na sa isang iglap ay puede silang mayakap at mahalikan ng mga babae at mga baklang nagaantay lang ng tiyempo.

Mga sikat na kanta ng Skusta Clee ay Zebbiana, Lagi, Sa Susunod na Lang, Much Better, at iba.

Skusta Clee. Internet grabbed

Mga sikat na awitin ng Flow-G ay Rapstar, Praning, Unli, at iba pa.

Bukod sa tatlong sikat na bandang ito, kumanta rin ang grupo at mga mangaawit na sila Pricetagg, Illest Morena, Zae, DJ Razikyle, Insekto Pares, Dream 7, MC Rich Flo, DJ Clinton, at DJ Kobe Uy noong gabi ng Mayo Uno na Labor Day.

Noong April 27 ay nag perform sila Dilaw, Toneejay, Taylor Sheesh, Avant Band, Paul’s Alarm, at Pastel Sky.

Noong April 30 ay PangasiRock Battle of the Bans.

Ani ng source, abangan ang magarbong Asinan Music and Arts Festival at Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) sa susunod na taon.