Want to know the latest statements of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Cruz on President Gloria Arroyo? Here, read on.

Monday, March 20, 2006
unimpressed and unafraid

The fact that majority of the ordinary citizens has given a rather low approval rating of the highest office holder in the land, already says a mouthful. And the added fact they would want her to resign even without certainty of the times thereafter, is saying very much more.

This means that many are unimpressed with her claim of the best in leadership plus the “direct intervention of God” for her occupancy of the office. This further means that neither are they impressed with the many claims of achievement in many national concerns—the economy in particular.

This also means that by and large, they are unafraid of the many offensive moves of the present administration against many of them. They neither honor nor accept the CPR. They likewise neither respect nor fear PD 1017. That is why protest rallies and marches go on. That is why media still speaks, publishes and shows what it seems proper and appropriate. That is why even those who really know say that there are still restive members of the AFP which is one big bad news both here and abroad.

All these social dissatisfaction and unrest must have a root cause, and many—the CBCP included—have already repeatedly said it loud and clear: the truth about the 2004 National Elections is not yet known. So the search for it continues, so the dissent of many continues as well.

One wonders why the Malacañang occupant was not allowed to have her day in court, so to speak. And of all people, it was her own avid supporters who prevented her from having that singular opportunity. That is why there is still a clamor for the truth to emerge—the truth about her legitimate or illegitimate tenure of office.

It is said, and rightly so, that truth knows no party. In fact, no one is above it—not even churchmen. In effect, all citizens are entitled to know it—the nuns, priests and bishops included who are also citizens in their own right.

It seems that there will be another attempt by Congress to find the truth about the persisting issue of the 2004 National Elections. Would that this—and possibly the last—occasion for the truth to be out be successful. This is the only way its real and permanent closure could be made.

OVCRUZ, DD
20 March 2006

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan- As thousands of students will march this month for their graduation in school, here’s a message from a visually-impaired woman, a Magna Cum Laude graduate, for hundred others who take their studies for granted.

Minnie Aveline Juan of this city, 21, the first Filipino Braille International awardee last year, advised students who have complete senses, not to waste the opportunity given them to be educated.

“Kung ako nga bulag nakaya ko po. Dapat mag-aral din silang mabuti (I am blind but I made it. They should also study hard),” she told this writer.

Juan graduated last year at the Trinity College in Quezon City where she took up Bachelor of Arts in English and was named the batch valedictorian after getting the highest average among the three magna cum laude graduates the time they graduated last March.

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SAN JACINTO, Pangasinan-House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr is like the famous Pinoy Big Brother in taking care of his six Housemates who are charged with rebellion.

De Venecia told this writer when he came here Friday to distribute Philhealth cards to indigent people that “for the first time in Philippine history, we were able to achieve something dramatic and the same time peaceful” regarding the plight of five members of the House who are staying at his ante room in his office until the preliminary investigation of their case is completed.

Accused of conspiring with Magdalo renegade military officers and the New People’s Army (NPA) to oust Mrs. Arroyo were Party-List Reps. Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teodoro Casiño, Joel Virador and Rafael Mariano.

De Venecia said “we were able to ensure dignified and humane treatment for the congressmen and congresswomen and at the same time prove the majesty of the law.

"I have to take care of my Housemates, not inmates”
de Venecia said.

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For few days now, I’ve been thinking of what happened to Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, in my native land of Philippines.

I saw footages from television network ABS-CBN about the tragedy. Life is really uncertain.

We haven’t recovered from the ULTRA stampede that killed more than 70 persons and injured several hundreds others after the victims, together with thousand others, converged in Ultra, Pasig City to get the chance to win handsome prizes. Poverty and (dole mentality, I must add), drove them there.

Then, came in just two weeks I guess, this Saint Bernard tragedy. Oh no, no more next please, Lord, I murmured while watching TV that night this incident was reported on TV.

Based on The Philippine STAR report today ( the paper which incidentally is where I contribute stories from Pangasinan), after more than 48 hours of digging into what is left of Barangay Guinsaugon here, everyone speaks in hushed tones, ears to the ground, hoping the slightest sound would signal that life still stirs under tons of mud.

I lifted some portions of the story written by Roberto Dejon. Please read on.

The search has been complicated by heavy rains, on top of the threat of another landslide from an adjacent mountain as well as the possibility that the rescuers themselves could get sucked into the soft, shifting mud.

Survivors of the tragedy had a tough time figuring out where their houses used to be since familiar landmarks have been also wiped out by Friday’s landslide.

Sketches of what the village used to look like didn’t help either the locals or the visiting rescuers.

Only 65 bodies have been recovered so far. Estimates of the number of people still buried range from 1,400 to between 2,000 and 3,000, and hopes are fading that any of them are still alive.

The military says up to 10 meters of mud — deeper in some places — has buried Barangay Guinsaugon, covering an area of nine square kilometers.

Let’s pray for these poor souls and for those who abuse Nature in order to gain financially. May the Holy Spirit open their minds and end their abuses. We have had so many lessons learned from Nature’s wrath.

DAGUPAN CITY—Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao has called on all police chiefs in the country to be always on their toes as the Pasig City shabu tiangge (flea market) recently raided by the police might be also operating right in their very noses in their areas.

Lomibao told local newsmen here Sunday afternoon at the Bonuan Binloc residence of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. here that,” It’s possible it also happens in other parts of the country”.

He described the incident where shabu was sold in tiangges very, very close to the police community precinct and government offices where addicts bought and consumed the illegal drugs in shanties as “incomprehensible, it’s unimaginable, it’s unthinkable to a have that kind of tiangge to exist in the neighborhood or in the heart of the city”.
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