Philippine Star’s editor Felix delos Santos was laughing when I answered my cellular phone after hearing Because of You as my ring back tune.

“My God, another assignment again?,” I told myself as I slowly answered my phone. I was about to attend the recognition day for Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Pangasinan athletes and mediamen who patiently covered this historic sports event and kind people who helped a lot to make the hosting a tremendous success. It was tendered by PRISAA president Gonzalo Duque. Ten more steps and I’m inside the hall where the program was being held.

“Evs, 1017 has been lifted. Get reactions from Archbishop Cruz and others whose opinions matter,” said Felix.

Can I say no to my boss? That’s wishful thinking.

So, I had to excuse myself for few minutes and make a call to Archbishop Cruz.

I checked out philstar.com for the details of the breaking news. Here:

Everything back to normal, says Arroyo on lifting of Proclamation 1017
03/03 12:38:19 PM

MANILA (AFP) - President Gloria Arroyo on Friday lifted a week-long state of national emergency declared to thwart an alleged coup plot.

"At this moment, I am calling off the state of emergency," she said in a nationally televised address.

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For more insights about this story, please visit http://www.philstar.com about the ouster of Senate President Franklin Drilon as Liberal Party president.

DAGUPAN CITY—Former Pangasinan Vice Governor Gonzalo Duque said the Liberal Party is “minamalas”( being hit by misfortunes).

Duque, an LP member on- leave and who claims to have not changed party, said the party always faces disunity every now and then even during Marcos time.

“Mahilig kasing kumuha ng mga balimbing ang LP tapos ititinda din sila (LP is fond of getting turncoats who eventually sell them),” Duque, now a full time president of Lyceum Nortwestern University, said.

He said he is not surprised that the new members are the ones seemingly causing chaos in the party.

“Now if the LP is still the same I don’t think it will move forward”, he added

“Kailangan ireview pagtanggap nila ng miyembro (They should review how they accept members),” Duque said.

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Alcala town in the beautiful province of Pangasinan greets the world anew when it bids for two Guinness Book of World Records titles for the longest grill and the longest barbeque grill.

Actually, I have written a separate story on this in my column in Sunday Punch (http://sundaypunch.prepys.com under Business Log) in its Feb.26,2006 issue.

Just this afternoon, we (members of the local media) had a talk with Mayor Manuel Collado who told us more about the event.

Alcala will have its 3,000 meters long barbeque grill. That's three kilometers. That means it is hoping to dislodge Dagupan City's 2005 attempt on the same category with its 2.2-kilometer long barbeque grill.

While Dagupeños grilled their famous Bonuan bangus, Alcalenians will grill pork and bangus (milkfish) for the documentation. Later during the party, people can grill anything from chicken, hotdogs, vegetables, talaba (oysters) or what-have-you.

For the longest grill, it will have its 150-meter long grill. The current record holder had only a 30-meter long grill, based on an information provided by Collado.
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DAGUPAN CITY—Local officials here inked a sisterhood pact with Zamboanga City leaders Saturday through a sisterhood agreement that aims to give mutual benefit for the two cities which are both known progressive cities in their respective area.

The memorandum of agreement signing was made in Zamboanga City after Dagupan City leaders led by Mayor Benjamin Lim and Vice Mayor Alvin Alipio Fernandez went to this Western Mindanao city for the pact and for a study tour.

Earlier this month, Zamboanga City leaders came to this Bangus Capital of the World.

Fernandez told this writer that “Zamboanga is also a financial, educational, health center of Western Mindanao, the same as Dagupan”.

He added that sisterhood is of friendship and exchange visits.

Fernandez said they proceeded to a sardines canning factory for exposure trip, and went to Badjao Livelihood center, the aviary, butterfly garden, Metropolitan church.
It is also a study of how the fishing industry in Mindanao has flourished.

Fernandez added that 70 percent of sardines in the Philippines come from Zamboanga.

Aside from Lim and Fernandez, Councilors Michael Fernandez, Farah Decano, Librada Reyna, Jojo Guadiz, Danilo Torio, Vlad Mata, Joey Tamayo, Alex de Venecia, Nick Aquino, Charisse Perez also went with the group.

On Zamboanga side, signatories were led by Mayor Celso Lobregat witnessed by Vice Mayor Isabelle Climaco.