Only Abono Wins Out of 5 P’sinense Lead Partylists

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

DAGUPAN CITY – Among the five Pangasinenses lead partylist, only the province’s homegrowns Abono wins in the latest survey of the Pulse Asia for the partylists’ election on May 12.

Based on the March 25 to 29, 2025 polls, Abono entered the winning Top 45 partylist seats for the 63 congressmen from the partylist needed to fulfill the constitutional mandates that twenty percent (20%) of the 313 members of the the House of Representatives should be allocated to partylists.

Forty-five (45) partylists should have won incase election was held on that period and not 63 because Tingog, ACT -CIS, Duterte Youth, PPP, and 4Ps got three seats each while Senior Citizens, Ako Bicol, Uswag Ilonggo, Alona, 1-Rider, Malasakit, Bayanihan, Cibac, and Agap garnered two seats each or a total of 28 seats for 18 parties only.

A party that got 6% or more of the total votes cast for the present 156 party lists that vie for the May 12, 2025 election gets three seats while those that got 4% and 2% of the total votes get two seats and one seat, respectively.

In the survey, Abono got 1.04% of the respondents or No. 26 on the 45 party that won the March 25-29 poll in case election was held on that period.

There are 155 partylists that shoved and jostled for the May 12, 2025 national and local elections.

Abono Partylist represents the agriculture and marginalized sector especially the population of Pangasinan province. Its first nominee is Congressman Robert Raymund Estrella – a resident of Rosales, Pangasinan -- while its chair and treasurer is Eng. Rosendo O. So.

In the elections of 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022, Abono got 1 seat, 2 seats, 2 seats, 2 seats, 1 seat, and 1 seat, respectively.

Pulse Asia said at least 99 percent of respondents’ report awareness of the party-list system. It added that out of the 155 party-list groups participating in the May 2025 elections, 45 would secure at least one seat if the elections were held at present.

Pulse said it conducted its pre-election preference survey for the 2025 senatorial race from March 23 to March 29 through face-to-face interviews, covering 2,400 randomly selected Filipinos.

Analysis: The Lethargic Tourism Industry of the Philippines

 

AS THAILAND, MALAYSIA, VIETNAM LEFT PHIL BEHIND

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Despite the budgetary handicap of the Department of Tourism (DOT), a solon lauded the performances of its Secretary how she positioned the Philippines to lure foreign tourists to patronize the country.

STAKEHOLDERS of the tourism industry in Southeast Asia. Top photo and clockwise: The ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), poster of tourism comeons of the ASEAN members. Pangasinan 4th District Cong. Christopher de Venecia, and Philippines Tourism Secretary and Lawyer Christina Garcia-Frasco. 

“Actually maganda ang plano ni (Department of Tourism) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. I always asked for a sum that will complement iyong ideal program sa DOT kaso ang Department of Tourism -- just like DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) ang pinakamamahal kong agency – hindi napaprioritize pagdating sa budget pero even then Sec. Christina makes the most of what she’s given. So tuloy tuloy iyong kanyang development ng mga experiences driven, mga tourism products,” Pangasinan 4^th District Cong. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia told this writer at the sidelines of the State of the Province Address (SOPA) of Pangasinan Gov. Ramon V. Guico III held at the ritzy Sison Auditorium here.

AWARDING OF FARM MACHINERIES

 

AWARDING OF FARM MACHINERIES. Two (2) units of Four-Wheel Tractors with Rotavator have been awarded to New Hope ARB and Farmers Association Inc. headed by Mr. Jerry Molina and One (1) unit Trailing Harrow has also been awarded to Aliguas Banaoang Farmers Association headed by Mr. Jerome Noble under the leadership of Sta. Barbara Mayor Carlito Santiago Zaplan and Municipal Agriculuture Office - LGU Sta. Barbara to support the agricultural productivity of the local farmers. Likewise, a Memorandum of Agreement and Deed of Donation have been served to the beneficiaries of the equipment for documentation and safe keeping.

3 Years Mark ‘Era of First Times, Lasting Accomp.’ – P’sinan Guv

 

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Governor Ramon V. Guico III highlighted historic “first” accomplishments in his first tenure during his third State of the Province Address (SOPA) on April 5 during the province’s foundation day celebration at the Sison Auditorium.

Dubbed as ‘Era of First Times, Era of Lasting Accomplishments,’ the SOPA bespeaks of the spirit of an era of doing things for the first time leaving lifetime effect for the people of Pangasinan.

 

Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III during the State of the Province Address 2025.

 Guico dedicated all the accomplishments achieved in his maiden tenure to the 3.2 million Pangasinenses.

“As your public servant in the province, please accept my heartfelt gratitude to all your prayerful and unfailing support. This State of the Province Address 2025 is not a chronicle of what the Governor has done alone. It has always been the accomplishment of the whole province,” the governor said.

Gov. Guico identified key programs that are “first” in tourism, agriculture, health, education, peace and order, infrastructure, environment, livelihood development, investment, employment, social services, disaster risk reduction.

Can Ph Revokes the Chinese Visa to Prop Up Her Tourism Industry?

 

By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

While going back inside the Sison Auditorium after the State of the Province Address of the Governor of Pangasinan, I saw Bombo Radyo Framy Sabado interviewing Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher “Toff” de Venecia.

I stopped my pacing on the light brown narra floor of the ritzy building and whisked up my cellphone cum tape recorder from my right pants pocket and butted in after the Solon answered Framy’s query about the vaunted employment juggernaut ‘s Creative Law he authored and was lengthily reported by my son Jigger (the De Venecias (Mother (come backing congressional bet Manay Gina) and Son P.R Man) at our Northern Watch Newspaper.

 

Here’s my posers to the young Congressman in English:

Me: Are you a member in Congress of the Committee on Tourism?

Him: No.

Me: Are you privy about Tourism issues in our country like the Philippines being a laggard while ASEAN members like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia have dusted us off in snaring foreign tourists?

 

The Congressman extensively answered my queries that I’ll be posting soon in my blog for all and sundry to read.

BY THE WAY, here’s the score of the state of our tourism industry versus those of the mentioned Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN):

“Thailand has reclaimed its title (for year 2024 – emphasis mine) as the most visited country in Southeast Asia by getting 35.5 million foreign visitors in 2024 after losing the crown to Malaysia in 2023.

Malaysia was second with 25 million visitors, which was short of its target of 27.3 million. Vietnam ranked third with 17.5 million visitors, followed by Singapore with 16.5 million and Indonesia with 13.9 million. The rest included Cambodia with 6.7 million arrivals, the Philippines with 5.4 million, Laos with 4.1 million, and Myanmar with 1.06 million” (E.vnexpress.net/)

***

Thailand became No. 1 in drawing foreign tourists among the members of ASEAN because she revoked the visa requirement for Mainland Chinese tourists to come to her shore.

The second biggest Southeast Asia’s economy hosted 32.7 million foreign tourists as of December 8, 2024 generating approximately 1.5 trillion baht (US$43.9 billion) in revenue.
China was the largest source of visitors of Thailand last year, with 6.3 million arrivals, followed by Malaysia (4.6 million), India (1.9 million), South Korea (1.7 million), and Russia (1.5 million).

Can the Philippines – which is No. 7 (eclipsed by backwater Cambodia which is No. 6, sanamagan!) emulates Thailand in getting rid of those Chinese visas to catapult her slow growing tourism numbers in the coming years?

It is quite impossible because of the military spat we have with Beijing. Incase that would happen, we could not be a Thailand in drawing Chinese tourists with an average of P100, 000 to spend from per tourist in Dakak, Boracay, Palawan, Siargao, or whatchacamacallit.

With that, we deprive our countrymen of employment and better standard of living unless national security is paramount to us despite the humongous number of the Chinese tourists.

What say you my friend on my opinion?

Walang CS Law na Nalabag; Hindi Kawani ng Munisipyo Iyong Tao

 Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan – Mariing pinabulaanan ng babaeng alkalde sa mayamang bayan na ito na isa sa kawani ng local na pamahalaan ang may hawakhawak na poster ng kalaban niya sa pagka alkalde at nagsasayawsayaw at nagsisigaw na talo na ang karibal.

REELECTIONIST Mangaldan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno (red arrow above) mingles with her consituents while her mayoralty opponent Vice Mayor Mark Stephen Mejia poses at the right photo.

Matapos batikusin ng mga mediamen at bloggers ang kanyang pangasiwaan, ani Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno: “as a government institution committed to upholding the election laws of the Philippines and Civil Service Rules and Regulations, LGU Mangaldan cannot over emphasize the importance of political neutrality in the government service bureaucracy”.

Sinabi ng alkalde na nag-isyu siya ng Memorandum isang araw o noong Marso 27 bago magsimula ang 45-araw na campaign period para sa mga kandidato sa local eleksyon sa Mayo 12 na ipinagbabawal ang pakikilahok sa electioneering o political partisan ayon sa Commission on Election (COMELEC) – Civil Service Commission (CSC) Advisory on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activities (Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2016).

Nagsimula itong pangangatiyaw kuno ng kawani ng munisipyo noong na nabidyuhan ang isang lalaki na hawakhawak ang poster ni mayoralty candidate Vice Mayor Mark Stephen Mejia at pasayawsayaw at pasigawsigaw na hindi raw mananalo si Mejia.

Kung talagang empleyado iyong lalaki ng munisipyo ilabas ng mga nagbabatikos ang dokumento na isa siyang kawani para masampahan na kaagad ng administratibong kaso sa Civil Service.

Ilabas na rin iyong bidyo at hindi na lang puro talak na napaghalataan tuloy ng karamihan na paninira lang sa kay Mayor Bona Parayno.

“It is unfortunate that an employee of LGU Mangaldan has been wrongly tagged in the aforementioned report even to the point of redicule when addressing the gender orientation of the employee,” ani Mayora sa maling akusasyon at pagiinsulto sa isang empleyado dito na hindi naman iyong taong naninira kay Mejia.

Ang mga paglabag sa Comelec-CSC Advisory ay ang mga sumusunod:

• Forming groups, associations, or committees to solicit votes or campaign for/against a candidate.
• Holding political rallies, caucuses, meetings, or parades for election campaigning.
• Making speeches, announcements, or media commentaries to support or oppose a candidate.
• Publishing, distributing, or displaying campaign materials promoting or opposing a candidate.
• Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges, or support for a candidate or party.
• Using government resources—such as time, personnel, facilities, and equipment—for political purposes.
• Providing financial or material contributions to candidates or political parties.
• Wearing campaign-related shirts, pins, caps, or accessories, unless authorized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
• Serving as a watcher for a political party or candidate during the election.

Ang mga kaparusahan ay ang mga sumusunod:

Government employees who engage in prohibited partisan political activities may face administrative sanctions under the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS):

• First offense: Suspension of one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months.
• Second offense: Dismissal from service, including loss of benefits and disqualification from future government employment.

Nanawagan si Mayor Bona sa mga mediamen na sundin ang “journalistic standards and verify information” first bago bumanat.

Esteves, Sumera Acting Mayor, VM ng Urdaneta City

 KAPWA MAMBABATAS NA NAGMATIGAS MAKAKASUHAN 

Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

URDANETA CITY – Matapos ang halos tatlong buwang pagkaantala ng mga konsehales dito kung sino sa kanila ang hahalili sa sinuspendidong alkalde at bise alkalde, tinanggap na rin ng dalawang mambabatas noong Marso 28 ang Designation Order sa kanila ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

ACTING MAYOR. Urdaneta City Acting Mayor Rio Esteves (left) and Acting Vice Mayor Doc Bles Sumera.

Matapos pirmahan noong Marso 26 ang Order ni DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, si Rio Esteves at Doc Bles Sumera ay pormal na ring pumirma ng kanilang Acceptance Letter sa opisina ng alkalde dito noong Marso 31 na sinaksihan nila City Councilors Amado O. Veridiano, Onofre C. Gorospe, Aurelion L. Agsalud, Sr., Warren Andrada, at City Local Government Operation Officer Richard S. Real.

Pagkatapos ay inihayag na rin sa araw na iyon kung saan merong flag ceremony ng dalawa sa mga kawani ng pamahalaang panlungsod ang pagtanggap nila ng Letter.

Sa sipi ng liham ni Region 1 DILG Director Jonathan Paul L. Leusen, Jr. kay Remulla, sinabi niya: “Further, with the official assumption of local officials as Acting Mayor and Vice Mayor, may we earnestly request guidance on what will be the next action for the PNP Personnel manning the old and new city hall of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.”

Si Esteves at Sumero ay numero otso at numero siyam sa labingdalawang mambabatas dito. Nahaharap ang mga kasamahan nila sa kasong Dereliction of Duty sa hindi pagtanggap ng utos ng DILG noong Enero pa na palitan nila pansamantala si Mayor Julio F. Parayno III at ang pinsan niyang si Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno.

Ang labingdalawang konsehales ay kaalyado ng mga Parayno.

Si Mayor Parayano at Vice Mayor Parayno ay nakasuhan ng kasong Grave Abuse of Authority at Grave Misconduct na pinirmahan ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin noong Enero 3, 2025. Sinuspende sila ng Office of the Philippines President ng isang taon magmula noong Enero 7 noong isinilbi ng DILG sa tanggapan ng dalawang Parayno.

Kahit na binarikadahan na ng mga kapulisan ang tanggapan ng dalawa noong Pebrero 4 ay patuloy pa rin silang nagsisilbi ng tungkulin nila. Ang pagmamatigas ng dalawa na bumaba ay magiging dahilan na sila ay makakasuhan ng Usurpation of Authority or Official Functions (Article 177 Revised Penal Code) at Falsification of Public Documents (Article 171).

Binalaan ni Atty. Romeo P. Benitez, Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affair, si Councilors Francis del Prado at Warren Andrada ang numero uno at numero dos  na may pinakamaraming boto na nanalo sa Mayo 2022 eleksyon noong mga nakaraang buwan na ang kabiguan nilang sundin ang utos ng batas na umupo sila sa nasabing pwesto ay maging “ground for criminal and/or administrative sanction”.

Ang kasong administratibo ng dalawang magpinsang Parayno ay hango sa “OP-DC Case No. K-090 entitled Michael Brian M. Perez vs. Mayor Julio F. Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy D. Parayno” kung saan ni indefinite suspended ni Mayor Parayno si Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) President at San Vicente Punong Barangay Perez dahil sa June 14, 2022 na Manifesto ng 33 sa 34 na Punong Barangay ng lungsod na ito para alisin siya na LNB President.

Pogi Sinungaling, Banat ni Monmon

NI MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Walang pagaalinlangang inilantad ng kasalukuyang nakaupong gobernador ng Pangasinan ang mga kasinungalingan ni dating gobernador Pogi Espino gaya ng walang pasubaling pag-ako  niya na sa kanya ang Point of Care noong panahon niya.

LIAR! Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Monmon” V. Guico III exposes the lies of his predecessor and gubernatorial rival’s former governor Amado “Pogi” Espino III. 

Ang Point of Care o Point of Service ayon sa Philippines Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) ay “program (that) provides immediate PhilHealth coverage to unregistered or inactive members, especially those who are financially incapable, seeking medical care in government facilities, ensuring universal health access”. 

“Napanoond ko sa isang speech niya noong panahon daw niya merong Point of Care ang mga hospitals ----- oy, mag isip ka!” banat ni Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III sa kanyang hinalinhan.

Sa isang pagpupulong kamakailan, binanatan ni Espino ang pagpapatakbo ng Guico Administration ng provincial hospital.

“Sabali met na mangyayari ti probinsiya siguro kadayo ada ti ospital idjay Bayambang o edi Urdaneta District Hospital edi Point of Care punyan tayo libre kayo no umunos kayo idyay nga ma insured kayo nga dagos,” aniya sa Ilokano

Ani Guico ang Point of Care ay programa ng pamahalaang pambansa. 

“Ang Point of Care is not a program of the province and of the provincial hospitals. Point of Care is the program of PhilHealth! All administrations merong Point of Care or Point of Service as they call it. So don’t claim that it’s yours,” patutsada niya kay Pogi.

Paliwanag niya na hindi tinanggal  ang programang pangmahirap sa gobyernong panlalawigan bagkus pinalawak pa niya ito.

“Dinagdagan ko, ni enhance ko at make sure that may doctor tayo at may mga gamot tayo”.

Inupakan pa ni Guico ang dating pamahalaang  Espino – kasali na diyan ang sa amang kapangalan niya na nagsilbing gobernador ng siyam na taon – kung may nabili silang mga MRI (magnetic resonance imagery), CT  scan (computed tomography), x-ray machines, ultrasound, at iba pa.

“Noong time nila may nabili ba silang MRI? Noong time nila ilan ang nabili nilang CT scan? May nabalitaan ako walang ganoon gawang CT scan. Papugakpugak iyang CT scan sa LDH (Lingayen District Hospital). Bumili tayo ng pito. Noong time ko as governor bumili tayo ng 19 brand new x-ray machines and 21 brand new ultra sound, we hired psychologist, we hired radiologists, and then medical specialists to cater to the needs of our patients and to work to the equipment that we purchased”.

Hindi umayon si Guico sa sinabi ni Espino na mas maganda ang pamamalakad ng huli sa pamahalaang panlalawigan:

“No! I don’t accept that!

Hindi napatapos ni Espino ang siyam na taong panunungkulan basi sa saad ng batas dahil tinalo siya ni Guico noong Mayo 9, 2022 election ng may mahigit na 187, 807 botos.

Merong 1,592, 189 botante ang bumoto noon kaya doon pinaghatian nila Guico (885,272 votes), Espino (697,465 votes), Rolly Jimenez (6,209 votes) at Caloy Padilla (3,243 votes) ang mga boto.

Samantala, inupakan si Pogi ng Facebook Page na True Lovers of Pangasinan noong sabihin niya na kinukupitan ni Guico ang P1,700 – P2, 100 na PhilHealth Konsulta Program ng pambansang pamahalaan.

“Psst, Pogi, narinig ko iyong speech mo sa Urbiztondo. Ipinakita mo na naman ang katangahan mo.

Sabi mo, "No agak bimmatik, wala tan ya Konsulta ya P200, P300 yo? Walay kuwarta yo natan. Asibletan kayo, asaol kayo. Dapat P1,700, o P2,100 itan. Naulew kayo, pirma pirma kini. Anggapoy danum, anggapoy meryenda,”ani True Lovers.

Ani Facebook Page na tanga daw si Espino dahil alam naman niya na iyong P300 na ibinibigay ay aprubado ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial lawmakers).

“Pero kahit ganyan ka katanga, alam ko namang alam mo na iyong P300 ay ibinibigay ng probinsya bilang incentive sa mga magpapakonsulta. Maong labat sa pangalaan day isaliw da na meryenda o pamasahe da. Aya may government unified incentive. Guiconsulta. Aprobado na provincial board,” ani True Lovers.

Paliwanag ni True Lovers ang P1,700 o P2,100 ay bigay ng Philhealth sa kanila bilang mga pasyente dahil  bayad iyon sa accredited facility kung saan nagpakonsulta ang isang mamamayan na nagparehistro sa Philhealth Konsulta Program at naging miyembro na rin ng Philhealth.

Ang nangunang Guiconsulta ay hinahangaan ng liderato ng PhilHealth at gusto ng huli na ito ay tularan ng mga local government units (LGUs) sa buong bansa.

21 K𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗻𝗴 L𝗶𝗺𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝗣’si𝗻𝗮𝗻, P𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗻ang I𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮

 

Pormal nang ipinakilala sa local at national media ang dalawampu't isang kandidata ng Limgas na Pangasinan 2025.

Kasabay ng press presentation ay ang official sashing sa Sison Auditorium Lingayen, Pangasinan nitong March 16, 2025.

Ang mga mag-aagawan sa korona ng Limgas na Pangasinan 2025 ay ang mga sumusunod;

1. Reign Joy C. Lim - Bayambang

2. Kayzee Shasta P. Brillo - Umingan

3. Leinahtan L. Sarmiento - San Carlos

4. Kyla S. De Leon - Basista

5. Xyza Nicole C. Aguilar - Mangaldan

6. Louise Anne A. Vergara - San Manuel

7. Cheska T. Donato - Bugallon

8. Grace Jineah C. Lumague - Pozorrubio

9. Clarisse C. Borbe - Alcala

10. Liannah Jermayne L. Mangosong - Asingan

11. Felicity C. Mamplata - Lingayen

12. Krysha R. Villanueva - Binalonan

13. Marianne Jinnah F. Nandin - Balungao

14. Chelsea Mae M. Oranza - Malasiqui

15. Alannis Sophia Melarnie F. Hodge - Sual

16. Ma. Julianne Vernice F. Nandin - Rosales

17. Venus B. Sawaysaway - Dasol

18. Freda V. Rosario - Labrador

19. Angelica Joy B. Flores - Sta. Barbara

20. Claire Arwen V. Cacal - Calasiao

21. Rosemarie O. Erang - Urdaneta

 

Pinuri ni Limgas na Pangasinan Committee Chairperson First Lady Maan Guico ang mga kandidata dahil sa kanilang galing at dedikasyon na maging kinatawan ng kanilang bayan.

 

Ayon naman kay Vice Governor Mark Lambino, ang Limgas na Pangasinan ay hindi lamang patungkol sa ganda at talino kundi ito rin ay plataporma para maipakita ang kakayahan at galing ng lalawigan.

Dumalo rin sa press presentation si Atty. Melanie Lambino, ang maybahay ni Vice Governor Lambino.

(Patricia Sevilla, JP De Vera| PIMRO)

Kabayan, Tulungan In; API, Aksyon, Abono Out

 

Pangasinenses Lead Partylists

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

DAGUPAN CITY – Among the five Pangasinenses lead partylist, only the province’s homegrowns Kabayan and Tulungan win the latest survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) for the partylists’ election on May 12.

FIRST NOMINEES of Pangasinenses lead partylists: (From top left and clockwise) Kabayan Partylist Cong. Atty. Ron Salo, Pangasinan's mediaman Cisco Flores, Abono Cong. Robert Raymond Estrella, Aksyon Dapat nominee Hernani Braganza, and API nominee Amado Espino, Jr.

Based on the March 15 to 20, 2025, Kabayan and Tulungan Tayo entered the winning Top 57 partylist seats for the 63 congressmen from the partylist needed to fulfill the constitutional mandates that twenty percent (20%) of the 313 members of the the House of Representatives should be allocated to partylists. Fifty-seven (57) partylists should have won incase election was held on that period and not 63 because 4Ps, Duterte Youth, Duterte Youth, and FPJ Panday Bayanihan got additional six seats based on the 4.17% to 10.44% respondents that voted for them as seen on the table of the pollster.

A party that got 6% or more of the total votes cast for the present 156 party lists that joined for the May 12, 2025 election gets three seats while those that got 4% and 2% of the total votes get two seats and one seat, respectively.

In the survey, Kabayan got 0.68% (ranked 43) while Tulungan Tayo 0.59 (ranked 48).   API (Abante Pangasinan Ilocano), Aksyon Dapat, and Abono poorly chalked up 0.30% (ranked 73-74), 0.25% (ranked 83-87), 0.12% (ranked 111), respectively.

There are 156 partylists that vie for the May 12, 2025 national and local elections.

Kabayan Partylist represents marginalized sectors of the Filipino community, including the disabled, senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), fishermen, farmers, and the poor.

Kabayan was founded by Ron Salo – a resident of Binmaley, Pangasinan -- in 2009. Salo is the present congressman of Kabayan in the 19^th Congress and he is the first nominee in the May 12, 2025 election.

Tulungan Tayo Party List’s first nominee is Cisco Jay Flores, a media practitioner from Dagupan City. He vowed to introduce bills designed to empower peasants, women, and youth. Its second nominee is JB Acosta of Calasiao, Pangasinan. Acosta’s wife is Pangasinan chain of malls heiress Dagupan City Councilor Irene Lim.

      The first nominee of Abante Pangasinan Ilocano (API) is the former Governor of the Province of Pangasinan Amado T. Espino, Jr. while its second nominee is Laoac Vice-Mayor Atty. Nelson Valdez Gayo. In the May 9, 2022 election, API made raves and waves as it got 449, 346 (1.24%) votes while its rival Abono settled for 287, 460 (0.80%). API then was basking on the popularity of the former Governor and his son and namesake who was the governor of the gargantuan province. But after the latter lost to Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, API lost its glitter under its congressman Mike Morden and even plunged to the cellar among the 156 partylists that shoved and jostled to be a member of the 20^th Congress. 

 

The first nominee for this year’s election of Aksyon Dapat Partylist is former Alaminos City, Pangasinan Mayor Hernani Braganza. He said – as culled from online data -- that his group initial plan was to create a peace advocacy organization, but his group’s diverse and inclusive platform paved the way for them to run under the party-list system.
Braganza – a former Press Secretary and Congressman -- stated that part of their advocacy was to increase the capacities of public hospitals in the country and also look into reducing the out-of-pocket expenses through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Abono Partylist represents the agriculture and marginalized sector especially the population of Pangasinan province. Its first nominee is Congressman Robert Raymund Estrella – a resident of Rosales, Pangasinan -- while its chair and treasurer is Eng. Rosendo O. So.

In the elections of 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022, Abono got 1 seat, 2 seats, 2 seats, 2 seats, 1 seat, and 1 seat, respectively.

 

                     GNAWED BY FPJ PANDAY BAYANIHAN AND SOLID NORTH

       This writer sees that one of the culprits that gnawed the votes of these five Pangasinan folks lead partylists are the presence of FPJ Panday Bayanihan being led by Senator Grace Poe whose first nominee is her son and Solidarity of Northern Luzon People (Solid North) run by the political family of Bernos of Abra.

FPJ (ranked 4 with 4.17% respondents) is based in Manila while Solid North (ranked 41-42 with 0.695 respondents) was just sued at the Commission on Election lately against its first nominee and a school division superintendent in Abra for alleged vote-buying and bribery.

These two partylists have been aggressively campaigning in Pangasinan to win its huge more than two million voters (a column/blog on this to follow – MCO).

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the complaint against Solid North Party-list first nominee Menchie Beronilla Bernos and Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education (DepEd) – Abra Amador Garcia was filed last March 7.

SWS explained that the survey was done through face-to-face interviews with 1,800 registered voters: 300 in Metro Manila, 900 in the rest of Luzon, 300 in the Visayas, and 300 in Mindanao.

It added that the poll had a margin of error of ±2.31 percent for national percentages, ±3.27 percent for percentages in Luzon except Metro Manila, and ±5.66 percent for percentages in Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

 

Tata Max, My Son Nico Become Instant Millionaire

 

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Amused by this 2002 column of the late Max V. Soliven - the quentessential opinion writer during my younger years -- how he became an instant millionaire. Upon reading it I hailed my son Nico to come in my library and asked him how he got hold the 13 million Laotian Kip when he went to Laos last January.

Here's Soliven -- the Maestro in Journalism subject of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino and Speaker Joe de Venecia in Ateneo --:

"It’s easy. All you have to do is fly 1,627 kilometers from Manila to Ho Chi Minh City (which everybody here still calls "Saigon", except for government officials and official documents). It’s a two-hour flight by private jet to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Anyway, Philippine Airlines flies down here three times a week. When you get into town and check into your hotel, exchange US$100 at the cashier’s desk (or at the money changer down the street). Immediately, you get handed Dong 1.53 million. Voila! You’re a millionaire – in Vietnamese Dong. That’s the local currency".

Nico told me that when he went to Laos -- formerly part of Indochina with Vietnam and Cambodia under the yoke of the greedy French colonizer --, he exchanged at the money exchange there his U.S $600 with KIP 13 million.

"Ano uli ang pangalan ng currency ng Laos, Teng?" I asked him.

"Kip," he said.

"Parang bastos naman ang tunog, "Kipyas! hihi," this malicious geezer -writer retorted.

Here's Soliven again:

" In time, you’ll be able to figure out how far your tourist dollar goes. A buck gets you 15,300 Dong. Dong 200,000 equals roughly $18. A million Dong is equivalent to about $70.

Can you expect to pay more for what you buy? Of course. You’re a tourist. You must bargain fiercely. But they deal with you here with pleasant smiles. There are many wonderful souvenirs and works of art to purchase within a two-block radius of your hotel. The Vietnamese, so formidable in war, are also the world’s most consummate artists: They paint, lacquer, do terrific silverwork (though much of their craft comes from Cambodia), ceramics — you name it. They can fake almost everything to perfection, too – including fake Zippo lighters with the emblems of American regiments and units, as if they had been captured by Viet Cong (their Dads) or North Vietnamese Army soldiers on the battlefield".

Photos of Nico (a graphic designer of a U.S company in the Mainland) below when he visited Laos. I mull to go to Vietnam instead of Laos and Thailand and visit those historic places - like Dien Bien Phu, Khe Sanh Combat Base, Hue (for the Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive), the tunnels, and others when the humiliated French and U.S military juggernauts tangled with the pajama clad, old tire made sandal wearing, and Russian and Chinese AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle wielding chink eyed tiny Vietnamese soldiers called NVA (North Vietnam Army as what Saluyot man Tata Max of Ilokoslovakia said) or Vietcong.

 

In 5 P’sinenses Lead Party Lists, Only 2 Wins - Poll

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

DAGUPAN CITY – Among the five Pangasinenses lead partylist, only the province’s homegrown party Abono and Kabayan entered the winning circle in the last survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS).

Based on the February 16 – 19, 2025 poll commissioned by Stratbase, Abono Party  and Kabayan entered the winning Top 56 partylist seats for the 63 congressmen from the partylist needed to fulfill the constitutional mandates that twenty percent (20%) of the 313 members of the the House of Representatives should be allocated to partylists. Fifty-six (56) partylists should have won incase election was held on that period and not 63 because 4Ps, Duterte Youth, FPJ Panday Bayanihan, Act-CIS, and Asenso Pinoy got additional seven seats based on the number of 2.6% to 9.61% respondents that voted for them as seen on the table of the pollster.

A party that got 6% or more of the total votes cast for the present 156 party lists that joined for the May 12, 2025 election gets three seats while those that got 4% and 2% of the total votes get two seats and one seat, respectively.

In the survey, Abono got 0.84% (ranked 33-34) while Kabayan 0.84 (ranked 33-34).   Aksyon Dapat, Tulungan Tayo, and API (Abante Pangasinan Ilokano) poorly chalked up 0.41% (ranked 69-71), 0.39% (ranked 74-75), 0.27% (ranked 89-90), respectively.

There are 156 partylists that vie for the May 12, 2025 national and local elections.

Abono Partylist represents the agriculture and marginalized sector especially the population of Pangasinan province. Its first nominee is Congressman Robert Raymund Estrella – a resident of Rosales, Pangasinan -- while its chair and treasurer is Eng. Rosendo O. So.

In the elections of 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022, Abono got 1 seat, 2 seats, 2 seats, 2 seats, 1 seat, and 1 seat, respectively.

Kabayan Partylist represents marginalized sectors of the Filipino community, including the disabled, senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), fishermen, farmers, and the poor.

Kabayan was founded by Ron Salo – a resident of Binmaley, Pangasinan -- in 2009. Salo is the present congressman of Kabayan in the 19^th Congress and he is the first nominee in the May 12, 2025 election.

The first nominee for this year’s election of Aksyon Dapat Partylist is former Alaminos City, Pangasinan Mayor Hernani Braganza. He said – as culled from online data -- that his group initial plan was to create a peace advocacy organization, but his group’s diverse and inclusive platform paved the way for them to run under the party-list system.
Braganza – a former Press Secretary and Congressman -- stated that part of their advocacy was to increase the capacities of public hospitals in the country and also look into reducing the out-of-pocket expenses through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Tulungan Tayo Party List’s first nominee is Cisco Jay Flores, a media practitioner from Dagupan City. He vowed to introduce bills designed to empower peasants, women, and youth. Its second nominee is JB Acosta of Calasiao, Pangasinan. Acosta’s wife is Pangasinan chain of malls heiress Dagupan City Councilor Irene Lim.

The first nominee of Abante Pangasinan Ilocano (API) is the former Governor of the Province of Pangasinan Amado T. Espino, Jr. while its second nominee is Laoac Vice-Mayor Atty. Nelson Valdez Gayo. In the May 9, 2022 election, API made raves and waves as it got 449, 346 (1.24%) votes while its rival Abono settled for 287, 460 (0.80%). API then was basking on the popularity of the former Governor and his son and namesake who was the governor of the gargantuan province. But after the latter lost to Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III, API lost its glitter under its congressman Mike Morden and even plunged to the cellar among the 156 partylists that shoved and jostled to be a member of the 20^th Congress. 

The survey asked 1,800 registered voters nationwide and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.31 percent.

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.

 

Urdaneta Mayor Kinukutya si DILG Sec. Remulla

 Ni Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAPAT maakysyonan ni Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla ang pangungutya sa kanya ng mukhang di natitinag na si Urdaneta City Mayor Rammy Parayno matapos ipadala ni Remulla ang “kabalyera” na pinamumunaan ni Region 1 Police Brigadier General Lou Frias Evangelista at Pangasinan Police Office Director Col. Rollyfer Capoquia at kasama na ang isandaang miyembro ng kapulisan noong madaling araw ng Marso 14 para barikadahan ang city hall at mga satellite offices nito para pigilan na makapasok ang mga isang taong suspendidong si Parayno at ang kanyang pinsan na si Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno.

STAND OFF. Department of Interior & Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla (left) and suspended Urdaneta City Mayor Rammy Parayno.

Pero noong gabi ng Marso 16, nakita si Mayor Parayno sa isang pulong sa Barangay Oltama na tila nagmamayabang na walang epekto ang pag cordon ng mga kapulisan sa munisipyo tungkol sa kasong grave abuse of authority at grave misconduct na pinirmahan ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin noong January 3, 2025. “Ibagak ko edi kayo Barangay Oltama, isuda ti nga man-usar iti munisipyo nga mabalinak nga magpirma eti balay ko. Natalusan yo Apo? Sino nga nakatugaw na mayor nga (inaudible) pipirma iti dokumento iti siyudad na Urdaneta?! Mayor Rammy Parayno!!!,” pagmamayabang niya sa Ilokano.

Sa pagkaintindi ko as non-speaker ng Ilokano, sinasabi ng “recalcitrant” na alkalde na “Kung ayaw siyang payagan na gamitin ang munisipyo puede naman siyang pumirma ng mga opisyal na dokumento sa bahay niya. “Sino ang nakaupong mayor ng siyudad na nakakapirma ng dokumento kundi si Mayor Rammy Parayno!!”. Tama ba ang pagkaintinde ko mga kaibigan?

Sa patuloy na pagiging kapit tuko sa puwesto ng dalawang Parayno at sa patuloy na pagpirma nila sa mga opisyal na dokumento sila ay pwedeng makasuhan ng Usurpation of Authority or Official Functions (Article 177 Revised Penal Code (RPC)) at Falsification of Public Documente (Article 171 (RPC)).

Ayon sa Code ang dalawang batas na ito ay:

·        Usurpation of official functions —Any person who, under pretense of official position, shall perform any act pertaining to any person in authority or public officer, without being lawfully entitled to do so, shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods. The minimum period of "prision correccional" is one year, eight months and one day to four years. The medium period of "prision correccional" is four years, two months and one day to eight years. 

·         Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastic minister —The penalty of prision mayor (or six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years) and a fine not to exceed 5,000 pesos shall be imposed upon any public officer, employee, or notary who, taking advantage of his official position, shall falsify a document by committing any of the following acts:

Ang kasong administratibo ng dalawa ay hango sa “OP-DC Case No. K-090 entitled Michael Brian M. Perez vs. Mayor Julio F. Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy D. Parayno” kung saan ni indefinite suspended ni Mayor Parayno si Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB) President at San Vicente Punong Barangay Perez dahil sa June 14, 2022 na Manifesto ng 33 sa 34 na Punong Barangay ng lungsod na ito para alisin siya na LNB President. Matapos sulatan ni Perez ang Office of the National President of the LNB, Office of the Provincial Board sa Lingayen, Pangasinan, at ang DILG, sinabi ni LNB National President Eden C. Pineda sa liham niya noong June 20, 2022 na ang pagtanggal kay Perez “is substantially and procedurally erroneous which renders the same null and void”. Noong Setyembre 2, 2022, sinulatan ni DILG Provincial Director Paulino G. Lalata, Jr. si Parayno na ang pagsuspinde kay Perez sa LNB ay walang basehan.

Ganoon din ang mangyayari sa pag preventive suspension sa mga successors ng dalawang Parayno na mga konsehales sa Sangguniang Panlungsod na, ayon sa source ko, ayaw daw nilang mag acting mayor at vice mayor kahit sinuspende na nang Malacanang ng isang taon ang dalawa. Lahat ng 12 miyembro ng city council ay kaalyado ng mga Parayno.

                                                          ****

Ayon sa source ko na ayaw magpabanggit ng pangalan, kung ang higanteng Pangasinan Provincial Capitol kasama na ang 14 na ospital niya ay merong mahigit kumulang na 7,000 empleyado sa buong lalawigan, ang lungsod ng Urdaneta ay nag eempleyo ng mahigit kumulang na 4,000.

What? Ano?

Kung totoo ito, dapat pa imbestigahan n Maan Guico -- pag nanalo siya sa pagka alkalde -- si Mayor Rammy at mga opisyales ng lungsod kung totoong merong mga ghost workers dito at pag totoo kasuhan sila ng Anti Graft & Corrupt Practices Act.

Wala pa akong ebidensiya kung totoong may mahika diyan sa dami ng mga kawani ng munisipyo pero meron akong column sa Northern Watch Newspaper kung saan sinabi ng isang beteranong alkalde na isang source ng korupsyon ng mga kasama niyang mga mayor ay ang pagdagdag ng mga “multong empleyado”. Ito ang sinulat ko:

“Aside from the corruption taken from the 20% development fund yearly, the mayor can still get his dirty monies from the following below:

-               P54. 6 million kickbacks - P1.4 million in one month or P18.2 million in year that includes the workers’ 13^th Month Pay, or P54.6 million in his three years’ term if out of the 400 public personnel half of them are “ghost” employees who received a P7,000 average monthly salary.

-          “Have you heard about a third class town with 400 workers? According to critics that 400 personnel are bigger than those workers of a city. A first class town in Pangasinan has more than 200 personnel only, how come a third class town has this scandalous number?” another mayor, who asked on conditioned of anonymity, posed to me. XXXX” (How aCorrupt Politico Enriches Himself).

PhilHealth Urges Other Provinces, Replicate GUICONSULTA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -  An executive of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) commended the Capitol’s GUICONSULTA (Government Unified Incentives for Medical Consultations) and urged other provinces to emulate it.

PhilHealth Vice President for Region 1 Dennis B. Adre said in an interview recently that GUICONSULTA is a commendable program that other provinces should replicate and make it as a model project.

“We have been coordinating with our head office to study and evaluate the Pangasinan Business Model and probably adopt and turn it into a policy,” Adre said.

Adre said that Philhealth has been trying to influence policy with actual good practice.

“What we see in Pangasinan, we hope, will be replicated by all the other provinces,” he said adding that Pangasinan is the first to provide counterpart services.

The GUICONSULTA, an exemplary brainchild of Gov. Ramon V. Guico III, was launched in 2024 and aimed to initially enroll at least two milion Pangasinenses.

“The intention is to seek out the 3.2 million population of Pangasinan, get them enrolled into Konsulta and get them to avail of the free services of PhilHealth-accredited facilities, “ Adre stated.

He added that the province’s GUICONSULTA is indeed a welcome development for PhilHealth as it complements the latter’s program by helping them promote the availment of actual services by the members.

Konsulta is an outpatient program of the PhilHealth which started in 2020.

 

“In Pangasinan, we have started negotiating with the province to engage as a whole provincial health network. But we started out by accrediting individual rural health units of the 48 municipalities. Now, they’re organized as one provincial health network,” he said.

Moreover, Adre said that the capitation worth P1,700 is being paid to the partner accredited facilities to include the 14 hospitals operated by the provincial government for actual services or outpatient services rendered.

The Philhealth VP said the P1,700 capitation goes to the member’s laboratory fees. It is also used for maintenance medicines of the member to include antibiotics, anti-diabetes, and hypertension medicines which is in contrary to what detractors claimed about reimbursements
“In the case of Pangasinan, they have come up with an 80-20 sharing scheme which is provided for in a memorandum of agreement signed by and among the 48 municipalities and cities,” he said.

He added that 80 percent is being held in trust by the province in a special health fund as contained in a resolution. On the other hand, the 20 percent goes directly to the LGUs.

In lauding the scheme, Adre said: “What’s striking about the plans of what we call the Pangasinan Business Model is the intention to invest in infrastructure among others.

They intend to invest it into an Apex Hospital. And they intend to upgrade the existing facilities the province to meet the needs of all our members.”

 

As to the P300 being given by the provincial government to enrollees, Adre said it did not come from PhilHealth but from the coffers of the province.

“As of now PhilHealth has not been able to pay for that purpose. Our engagement with them as one whole provincial health network, we have not been able to give even a peso,” he stated.

GUICONSULTA was launched by the province as a counterpart service to Philhealth’s Konsulta program.

Expensive diagnostic procedures like mammogram, for example, is included in the free services along with other laboratory services.

(Ruby F. Rayat/PIMRO)