STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan, Philippines—Town officials here launched Saturday their Corn Festival by planting hybrid glutinous white corn variety, their prime product, as a prelude to their bid for the Guinness Book of World Records title for the longest barbecue by simultaneously grilling 130,000 corn ears in February when the town turn 100 years old.

Mayor Vivien Villar and Vice Mayor Timoteo Villar III led the people in demonstrating proper way of planting corn using “armalite”, made of tin sheet that looked like a long firearm where a corn seed is placed and then pressed when planted using double row technology in the 1.7 hectares farm lot owned by the local government unit. Other plantations whose corn produce will also be used for the Guinness bid are in barangays Sto. Domingo, San Jose and San Antonio.

The Guinness bid is the highlight of their town's 100 years founding anniversary on February 1 to 10 next year.

The corn planted Saturday will be harvested two days earlier in time to be used for the actual grilling on February 10, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

But Vice Mayor Villar, chairman of the Corn Barbecue Festival, said they have prepared 300,000 corn ears for the actual grilling. There will be 2,028 grills made of bamboo, each measuring 2.4 meters long, to be set up from the town boundary in Rosales up to the boundary in Alcala town for the five- kilometer stretch roadline

About 1,500 sacks of charcoal will also be used for the grilling.

Also Saturday, the people had another dry-run with 90 grills using 2,000 corn ears to perfect their grilling when the big day comes. Fifth District Board Member Charizzma Salud Carancho and the mayor’s daughter, Marie Antonnette Villar-Pescador, former president of the Provincial Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, led the ceremonial lighting of the grills.

Crisanto Balila, municipal agriculturist, said what makes their corn planting unique is they are using certified organic farming which the town has been advocating for their prime produce of corn. Last February, they also harvested corn that used organic farming to show to all that it’s good for the health and the environment.

The last time that a Pangasinan held a Guinness title for longest barbecue was in 2003 when Dagupan City captured that crown from Peru using its famous product, bangus (milkfish).

The hybrid glutinous white corn is favorably produced here because of good irrigation system provided by President Gloria Arroyo. There are about 352 hectares devoted to corn planting here but this will increase to more than 600 hectares because of the ongoing multi million irrigation system here.

The corn grown here are sold in Villasis, Rosales, Bayambang, and in Moncada and Camiling in Tarlac province.

The mayor said they are hoping to wrest the Guinness title considering that they have prepared this big event for one year already.

She said the proceeds of their corn festival will be used for the modernization of the town’s health services as well as the improvement of their town’s high school named Antonio Villar Sr. Memorial High School.

Villar lauded her constituents, especially the barangay officials, for their unity and support as they voluntarily made the grills voluntarily.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan— This province now holds the record of the highest number of hectares planted with hybrid rice in the entire country.

This was said by Gov. Victor Agbayani in his ninth State of the Province Address Friday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall here attended by his department heads, three mayors, the provincial board members, and other heads of government agencies.

Agbayani said the irrigation program and the continuing technology transfer have dramatically increased the hybrid rice area plnated in Pangasinan by eight-fold, from 2,000 hectares five years ago to almost 17,000 hectares today.

He said hybrid rice has effectively increased the average yield of the province’s rice farmers from 80 cavans per hectare to 150 cavans per hectare.

This represents an increase in harvest of more than one million cavans last year or an equivalent increase of P500 million in gross income for the farmers, he said.

Also, he said 28 communal irrigation systems will be rehabilitated early this year, increasing irrigation efficiency in 3,000 more hectares of farmland in the province.

Agbayani said the irrigation program which he began in 1999 will have rehabilitated 111 irrigation systems by the end of this quarter, improving irrigation in a total of about 20,000 hectares of farmland in Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Agbayani said even as the province awaits the resolution in the Central Board of Assessment Appeals of the real property tax payment for the year 2006 of the Mirant and the National Power Corporation, the province continues to maintain its status as number one in assessment and real property tax collection in region 1.

Last year, the governor said a total of P7.66 billion in investments with more than 16,000 jobs generated were recorded by the Department of Trade and Industry in the province.

On the environment aspect, Agbayani said his four-year old Upland and Watershed Reforestation Program now benefits an extended network of 70 Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) organizations in watershed and ISF areas. He said with the help of the Department of Agriculture, this provincial government program has planted over 170,000 tree seddlings, reforesting an aggregate area of 740 hectares.

He said in July 2006, he signed a Conservation Partnership Agreement with the University of the Philippines Marine Environment Resource Foundation and the Netherlands government.

Part of the agreement is the grant by the Netherlands government of a six-ton vessel to be used by the Provincial Coastla Law Enforcement Task Force to patrol areas of Lingayen Gulf.

The governor also stressed thatPangasinan remains the undisputed pioneer province in the Family Planning Commodity Self Reliance.

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan—Be romantic
on your wedding day. Make it happen at the world- famous Hundred Islands located in this city for free.

This Valentine’s Day, the city government is set again to sponsor a Valentine’s Day wedding at the Lucap Wharf, the jump-off point to the scenic Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).

Reynaldo Castro, head of the Local Civil Registry (LCR) said his office welcomes would-be couples who wish to be part of this memorable event. About 100 to 150 couples from the city’s 39 barangays either to tie the knot or renew their wedding vows are expected to join.

All interested couples still have until January 31 to file their wedding applications at the LCR.

For the past two years, the Valentine’s Day wedding was held at Bolo Beach in
barangay Pandan.

With the scenic view of the HINP as a backdrop, the perfect setting and romantic ambiance at the wharf and the mammoth crowd witnessing this unforgettable affair of the hearts, the wedding couples will definitely treasure every moment of their sunset Valentine’s wedding, Mayor
Hernani Braganza said.

Braganza will again administer the wedding ceremonies for the third straight year. He, his wife Stella and the city and barangay officials will also serve as principal sponsors to the would-be brides and grooms.

The Braganza administration has institutionalized this free mass civil wedding as a humble gift to the less privileged
Alaminians who could not afford a decent, much less a dream wedding.

The initiative is also one of the many ways of reviving the old magic of the Hundred Islands and at the same time infusing love, joy, romance and sense of spirituality into the city’s pride, the mayor said.

See also "Wedding Photographer in Singapore"

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines–President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be in this historic and capital town of Pangasinan today around 10:00 a.m. to fulfill her promise last year that she will come back to inaugurate the almost P800 million Domalandan Bridge.

District Engineer Rodolfo Dion of the Second Pangasinan Engineering District
based here told this writer that all is set for the inauguration which coincides with the town fiesta celebration.

To accompany the President are Pangasinan leaders led by House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, second district Rep. Amado Espino Jr, Governor Victor Agbayani, Mayor Ernesto Castañeda Jr, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr, among others.

Dion said after six years of construction starting in 2001, the 600.46 lineal meter long Domalandan Bridge located within the boundary of barangays Baay and Domalandan that connects this town to the rest of the towns in western Pangasinan is now ready for inauguration as its contractor, Ciriaco Construction, beat early its deadline for construction completion.

The 18-span bridge has a width of 7.2 meters plus a sidewalk of .90 meter on
each side.

It was washed out by a typhoon sometime in 1998. Since then, due to government financial shortage, the release of its fund was made on a staggered basis.

Castañeda thanked Mrs. Arroyo for fulfilling her promise to have this project completed when she came here during last year’s fiesta celebration.

"This is the most memorable Christmas gift coming from President Arroyo for the people of Lingayen," he said.

He also thanked de Venecia for ensuring that funds were allocated yearly for its completion.

“This is another important project made under the Arroyo administration. A big number of Pangasinenses especially those from the first and second districts will be greatly benefited,” Espino said.

He said when the bridge collapsed, people from western Pangasinan who come here and in the central business district of Dagupan and vice versa had to make a detour to Labrador which takes longer travel time.

“This is truly a merry Christmas and happy fiesta celebration for Lingayen,” Espino said.

DAGUPAN CITY–Unless resolved with
credibility, the Garci phenomenon will continuously disturb the nation and dividethe people, said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Cruz said in a statement that," It (Garci phenomenon) is an issue that continues to haunt the conscience of people and the peace of the land. Good or bad, this is the truth. To say the opposite is but wishful thinking".

Chief State ProsecutorJovencito Zuño said the other day that former Commission on Elections (Comelec)commissioner Virgilio Garcillano is not yet off the hook in the alleged cheating that took place in the May
2004 elections. Zuño said cases against Garcillano that had been dismissed by a panel of prosecutors did not include his alleged role in the reported massive
cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.

Cruz said,"The Garci issue is very much bigger than a person. It is fundamentally the serious matter of the legitimacy of the present national leadership—not to mention its big loss of credibility before the serious and thinking populace".

The prelate noted that there are those happily gearing up for the alleged candidacy of a person. At the same time, many are those who are sadly reminded of the workings of still the same Comelec, he said.

He said certain politicians are eagerly looking forward to have a person in their ticket. But there are certain groupings and entities that are more and more annoyed by the transactional politics in the country, he added.

Now, it's back to square one: impeachment case, with Garci question having come up, the so called “Hello, Garci” tapes are once again brought to mind, Cruz said.

And this is necessarily accompanied by no less than the impeachment process twice shelved not really by reason of demerit by mere tyranny of numbers, he said.

There is moral certitude that the same case will be once again—for the third
time—raised in the halls of Congress, Cruz said.

"And when once again thrown out, the present Malacañang occupant again also
loses by default—by denying her to have her day in court, in this particular still in socio-political open wound with serious fundamental socio-moral dimensions, begs for closure," he added.

DAGUPAN CITY–For Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, "it's time to go for the national leadership".

Perhaps, the time has come for the national leadership to become some kind of a hero instead of a downright villain, Cruz said in a statement yesterday.

By now, it should have learned the admittedly hard and painful lesson that it is neither truly meant to govern nor really capable of good governance, he added.

"The logical conclusion is but-one: it appears that the time has come for the national leadership to go, to renounce the office, to move somewhere, to leave everything behind," he said.

Cruz enumerated several reasons. He said for a start, it (national leadership) faces so many serious and standing socio-moral predicaments and political adversities.

He said it continues to be accused of lying, cheating and stealing, the long hanging threat of impeachment proceedings, the actual worsening economy notwithstanding all loud and repeated official protestations to the contrary, people’s hunger grows while their death for lack of medicine multiplies and there is not only less education available for the children but also less
educated youth.

He noted that there are its often failed attempts at having power more than that allowed by law. This is not to mention its fast becoming gun-powder mentality that translates into many and still continuing political killings and disappearances, he said. There are more and more rallies of dissent plus bigger and bigger marches of contempt and it has even become the target not only of creative jokes but also the object of sickening texts, he added.

Cruz also said its pretence at super regions is simply met with super typhoons. "Pure coincidence or actual design, there are one too many natural disasters coupled with many man-made calamities", he said.

Cruz also cited problems on illegal drugs, illegal gambling, graft and corruption that continue to hound the national leadership.

And there came the desperate government plan of changing the fundamental law of the land—for any and all conceivable reasons except the common welfare, he said. There must be another planet where those possessed and obsessed proponents of CHA-CHA (Charter Change) come from to preach that national abundance, progress and development are necessarily connected with a
parliamentary form of government!, he said.

But then as the infamous “people’s initiative” was unmasked and discarded, the insistent “constituent assembly” was all of a sudden set aside on account of wide and strong contrary public outcry, Cruz added.

In the same way, the much publicized ASEAN Summit was likewise suddenly cancelled allegedly for simple climatic reasons, he said.

"National leadership: time to go?," Cruz asked.

DAGUPAN CITY–Thousands of anti-Charte Change advocates through the Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) mode are expected to air their collective sentiments today (Dec. 15)at the city plaza here against this government-backed initiative in amending the 1987 Constitution as text messages regarding this gathering started to spread acrosss the province inviting concerned people to unite.

One text message sent by City Administrator Rafael Baraan to this corner urged the people to join and show their disgust versus Con-Ass by joining this people's assembly and prayer rally.

"Tama na. Sobra na (Enough. It's too much)," Baraan said.

No less than Mayor Benjamin Lim of this city expressed support to this gathering led by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz.

Lim is reportedly set to challenge House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr in his
congressional post in next year's elections. De Venecia is the Chief Architect of the proposed Charter Change in the Philippines.

Lim is expected to mobilize his troops to join the rallyists.

Meanwhile, Cruz again assailed the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation
(Pagcor) for "stopping a prayer rally" planned by advocates of Charter change
through Constituent Assembly led by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) on Dec. 15 at the Luneta Park.

Cruz said in a statement that "In these turbulent days and disturbing times, Pagcor appears to be altogether at the forefront in
shielding the national leadership and its die-hard allies".

He said this was manifested anew by this government gambling agency against the CBCP scheduled a prayer rally at theLuneta Park as a legitimate expression of dissent to the now infamous “Cha-Cha express” through an aptly called “Con-Ass”. The said gathering was scheduled after several meetings and consultations with many sectors of society, he said.

"Lo and behold, when CBCP representatives were making the usual arrangements with the Luneta officials, they were told that Pagcor already had the place reserved specifically on 15 December 2006," Cruz noted.

" How interesting! How timely! How coincidental!," he said.

He added that Pagcor appears to be the fast emerging lead agency not only in the protection of the present administration, but also in the promotion of government propaganda. Its direct appendage to the office of the national leadership with a staff function could not have been deliberately done for either innocent reason or noble cause, he said.

Cruz said this distinct Pagcor role is neither a secret nor a revelation as this fact seems to have been already long established. It already had a loud official start on the occasion of the 2004 national elections, the prelate said.

He added it is enough to recall the omnipresent street cleaners with their
advertising blue shirts. With the end of the elections, they were also quickly terminated-with some of them not even getting paid after having been
used, he said.

Cruz said it is also said that multi-million Pagcor rake-ins go the intelligence fund of the presidential office. There seems to be the rule and practice that this particular fund is neither open nor subject to accounting, Cruz observed.

" How convenient! Furthermore, it also seems that other multi-million Pagcor
take-ins go to the so called presidential “social fund” whose interpretations and pursuant disbursements are anybody’s guess. How intriguing!," he said.

Cruz also said there is a pending legislative bill categorically forbidding government officials to go to the Pagcor casinos. "If the Philippine Gambling Corporation is that innocent and beneficial, why would such a blunt prohibition be even thought of- proposing it no less than to be made into
law?", he asked.

He added," A corporate promoter of vice is driving away a socio-spiritual gathering. There is always a first time. The present administration has a good record of having many dubious firsts-except in corruption which merely ranked second in Asia," Cruz said.

But despite the postponement of the Dec. 15 Luneta Park rally to Dec. 17., various Church-led prayer rallies will still be held in different parts of the country, including Dagupan City on Dec. 15 as originally planned, according to Cruz.

Cruz has met more than 50 priests under his archdiocese and also the separate
dioceses in the cities of Urdaneta and Alaminos for massive coordination in
their respective areas with various organizations for this prayer rally.The
participants, mostly students from Catholic schools, will start converging at
the St. John The Evangelist Church around 1:00 p.m. Friday and march towards
the city plaza.

(This story I wrote came out in The PHilippine STAR Nov. 12, 2006.)

DAGUPAN CITY—Take it from a true-blue Dagupeño who won his third term as mayor of Milpitas, California about his secret formula in his political battles: Excellence in performance all year round and being in the community consistently—these are the best ammunitions in a campaign.

Mayor Jose Esteves who hailed in barangays Bonuan and Pogo Grande this city garnered 8,217 votes or 56.8 percent under Republican Party over his lone opponent, Henry Manayan, a Democrat, who got 43.2 percent. Manayan, a former
mayor also in Milpitas is an Asian (Filipino-Chinese) American.

In an interview made by The STAR via e-mail, Esteves said he feels “very rewarded and grateful especially after having significant accomplishments for the City of Milpitas – and after having tremendous support and care from many citizens”.

Asked what made the Nov. 7 election different from his previous political fights, Esteves said,” I work my best every election regardless of the opponent or circumstances. I think that the Filipino media in this place has publicized this election more than the previous elections giving the impression that this is the election to watch”.

Esteves' sister supported Manayan. "My sister Perla has been having conflicts with our parents for many years now. All of us (5 brothers and one sister) believe in our parents except for Perla," he said.

"Perla has not been supportive of her whole family including myself. I think this is her problem, not mine. And this is not a relevant issue," he added.

But he said he was more comfortable in this election as he had more significant accomplishments and more supporters and contributions.

He said his obvious accomplishments, the overwhelming support he received and the honesty and integrity that people saw in him made people voted for him again.

In the mayoralty election in 2004, he got 9,771 and in 2002, he also won a landslide victory. He was also number one when he ran for the City Council the first time in 1998.

For him, the last election was not at all an easy fight as he said,” I had challenges when misinformation and lies were used by the opponent tremendously”.

But he said “this was balanced with thepresence of many supporters and a long list of strong endorsements for me.

“We have to keep the record straight always,” he said.

He said he always aims to do his best in his current position “so , I aim to continue to be one of the best Mayors with extraordinary accomplishments, results and leadership”.

He said he misses the Philippines, his country of origin and particularly this city, his native city. “Yes, I do (miss the Philippines and Dagupan City). I have always been proud of my origin, of the Philippines and of Dagupan City. I miss my fellow Filipinos there, their greatcharacter… I miss the natural resources, fruits and the air and everything,” he said.

Asked what lessons he had learned in American politics, Esteves said,”Politics could be similar in all places –lots of
opportunists, unethical practices and personal attacks. I have learned to focus on real issues, the qualifications of the candidate and the record of performance”.

He said he wants to continue the following: implement our economic development plan to bring/keep more businesses and jobs, support our school district to continue elevate the quality of education for our children, preserve the high quality of life : lowest crime rate, quiet and clean neighborhood, and quality city services and programs, ethical conduct of
officials and employees, others.—Eva Visperas

(This is a story I wrote which was published in The Sunday Punch)

MAPANDAN,Pangasinan–"My world crumbled. They were everything to me.".

Wailing, Josephine Abellera , said this as she could not fathom why her only two children, Richard John, 7, and Ryan Christian, 6, drowned dead in Angalacan River near their residence in Barangay Baloling here.

Josephine, 42, married Rey, also 42, late in their mid 30s and were blessed with two children. Josephine alias Josie said their two children meant the world to them.

“Impabayes na Diyos labat manaya ya agano irayay anak ko ed siyak (God just
lent me my two kids for a while),” she told The PUNCH the other day (Nov. 7).

It was November 4 around 11:30 a.m, when their neighbors gave her her sons’ slippers after they drowned dead. She ran fast towards the river about 300 meters away
from her house in an effort to rescue them.

But, her sons were gone.

"Diad sakey labat ya momento, biglan alusbo su mundok (In an instant, my
world fell apart)," she tearfully said.

That tragic day, Richard John, a grade two pupil in Baloling Elemntary School
here, was to act as ring bearer in a wedding in Dagupan City.

He and his brother, a senior kindergarten in the same school, asked permission from their Mommy to take a bath. Josie, then preparing their things for the wedding, allowed them thinking that they were to take a bath at the water pump in their house. Too late did she learn that her sons went to the river for a bath, an act they never did before.

She recalled that it was only one time last May 1 when her husband came home
that their family went to the river for a bath and had a picnic there. They opted to celebrate Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival), an annual affair in Pangasinan to celebrate the bounties of the sea, in the river to avoid huge crowd. Since then, the kids never returned in that area.

A four- year old playmate who is a relative of the victims, Aldwin Manaois, was with the two for the supposed bath. But because he could not go down the
river, he survived the tragedy. Shocked but was later able to talk, he was the one who told the sad news to his family.

Chief Inspector Leonardo Tamondong, police chief here said, they learned
about the tragedy and immediately went to the area.

With the help of concerned neighbors and the responding police, Richard’s body was recovered around 1:30 p.m. that same day.

Ryan’s was seen the following day around 8:30 a.m. along the river in Casibong, San Jacinto town.

Josie said she didn’t have any premonition about her kids’ untimely death.

She said when the news reached her, she went down the river in an effort to
rescue them and almost got drowned too, as the water was neck-deep. Her
cellular phone got soaked, too. Barangay folks prevented her from going far
and search for her drowning sons.

Feeling useless

She said she felt as if she is a useless mother unable to protect her sons.

“All the time, I was with them. I rode them in our trike bike going to and from school. People were used to seeing us three together anywhere anytime. Even while they were sleeping, I would watch over them,” she said in Pangasinan dialect.

She said she doesn’t know how her husband working as a heavy equipment mechanic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia would react to her once he goes home. A relative
relayed the news to Rey and sent via fax message the death certificates of his sons so he would be allowed to go home.

Her husband requested not to bury his sons yet until he arrives home.

‘Our attention was focused to them. We want to give everything to them. They
are our world,” Josie said.

She said she blames herself for what happened but appealed to their
relatives, especially to her husband and his family to understand her.

She said it’s a good thing that people helped her get through this biggest
trial in her life by giving her advices on how to move on in her life.

“Amtak ya pagsubok labat ya na bilay pero grabe, ansakit ya maung (I know
this is just a trial in life, but it’s too much, it is so hurting),” she said
crying.

She said she is fighting her emotions and accept the fact that this is another mystery in one’s life.

Though she said her husband never hurt her physically, she said she is willing to accept if she would beat her this time because of what happened.

“Kailangan matatag ak anggan agko la amta no panon ak lamet ya ongapo ed
bilay. Wadtan ni asawak ya nepeg kon asikasoen (I should be tough although I
don’t know how to live again. My husband is still there for me and I should
take care of him),” she said.—Eva Visperas

DAGUPAN CITY—Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan), a group of local leaders, adopted as its first and only honorary member, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo during their fellowship meeting on Oct. 24 at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

Arroyo was elated by the move which was unanimously approved by the group led by its founding chairman, Usec for Local Governance Antonio Villar Jr, together with Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, 36 mayors , three board members, Dagupan City Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez and his father, Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr present during the meeting.

He said that he feels like a Pangasinense as his wife, President Gloria Arroyo, considers herself as a Pangasinense because her mother, former First Lady Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal, hailed from Binalonan town.

Mr. Arroyo said he shares the battle cry of Biskeg Na Pangasinan which is unity among the leaders so that there will be more progress to attain.

Villar told him that the group was behind the candidacy of President Arroyo in the 2004 elections wherein the expected huge margin by her closest rival was tremendously trimmed down because of the local leaders’ unity for her.

Villar added that this year, the Commission on Elections accredited the group as a provincial political party, the first and only in Pangasinan to be given such feat and distinction.

Right now, 35 mayors have signed up as Biskeg member.