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Pangasinan News April 2012

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Pangasinan Province - Archived News

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Pangasinan Palaro is one-of-a-kind

By Al Mendoza

I KNOW where Amado T. Espino Jr. is coming from. He knows he has just scored another major triumph that is why he is doing yet again his utmost to ensure not just a hitch-free event but, most important of all, a one-of-a-kind edition that might yet emerge as the envy of all.

This early, therefore, he deserves a round of applause.

Since winning the right to host the Palarong Pambansa has taken a lot of time, effort and money to achieve it, the victory shouldn’t be treated as just an ordinary thing, like breathing or walking or even brushing one’s teeth.

Instead, it should be considered a monumental gain scored not only by his much-vaunted, no-nonsense leadership, but by the entire province of Pangasinan as well, if only for the sheer honor of having won the right to stage the country’s premium sporting event for high school students coming from all across the archipelago.

This is no picnic Gov. Espino is hosting, but one that should put forward the resilience, fortitude and industriousness of every Pangasinense in living up to the task at hand.

This is one for the books, one that should be looked up to as another major event to showcase the inherent hardworking qualities of the Pangasinense.

It has been tested many times before, proven many times before, when Pangasinan took center stage to host the Palaro and other sporting events of national magnitude, like the famed Prisaa.

In 1995 alone, Pangasinan hosted the Palaro, shining through it with flying colors that people all over the land – including the very same athletes that had participated in it – are still oozing with praise till now at how the province had hurdled the event with smashing success.

And do you know one of the biggest secrets behind that spectacular achievement?

No less than the present Pangasinan governor himself, as Gov. Espino was then the provincial police director when the 1995 Palaro was staged in Pangasinan.

Holding a key position then in the Organizing Committee of the1995 Palaro, Guv Spines, as he is now fondly called by his adoring constituents, instituted crucial reforms geared towards ensuring the unimpeded success in that year’s edition of the Palaro. Not only did he deploy practically the entire provincial police force to make the event safe from rogue elements and criminals, but also, he threw his unqualified managerial skills behind the entire machinery of the work force running the day-to-day affairs of the week-long meet.

I should know.

I personally know Gov. Espino even before he became Pangasinan governor for the first time in 2007.

Modesty aside, I was one of Gov. Espino’s favorite “glass-mates” if not his true favorite, before he captured the Capitol seat in Lingayen, Pangasinan. (Butch Velasco, the governor’s trusted lieutenant, knows this by heart.)

And, yes, I should know because I am from Pangasinan.

Before Guv Spines became governor, he was our Congressman in the second district of Pangasinan, where I come from and, aware of his splendid track record, I had vigorously campaigned for his election.

And, if truth be told, Guv Spines, because he loves me so much, had wanted me to run for mayor the year he ran for governor in 2007.

“You flatter me, Pare,” I had told him then, bumping my stemmed glass to his stemmed glass as well.

“I want us to be partners in the major reforms that I envision for our beloved province,” said Pareng Amading then.

From Day One that I met Guv Spines, I knew already he’d one day make a good father of Pangasinan.

In the coming Palaro alone set May 6 to 12, Guv Spines has made the meet “plastics-free” and will give paper bags to everyone who matter – meaning he is making it known to all athletes, coaches, delegates and visitors that Pangasinan, home of the world-famed Lingayen Gulf, is “environment friendly and a nature-lover.”

Likewise, the Palaro will be seen worldwide via the Internet, a first-of-its-kind feature that has tremendously pushed the Meet into heights of glory never seen in the history of the annual event.

“The way the governor wants things done in every endeavor that he goes into, he’s definitely without peer,” said Raffy Baraan, the amiable and soft-spoken provincial administrator.

Here’s to a grand staging of the Palaro – one that should be the benchmark of future Palaros.

Take a bow, Pareng Guv.

VM Fernandez bags 2 awards in U.S. visit

(LBG, GMA News)

DAGUPAN City Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez received two commendations during her recent official business trip to the United States from April 16 to 22.

The awards were presented by the Dagupan City Association of Northern California Inc. (DCANCI) headed by Marlene Garibay, president; and Milpitas City, a sister-city of Dagupan, whose mayor, Jose Esteves is a son of Dagupan.

DCANCI honored Fernandez with the "Dayew na Dagupan" award while Milpitas City presented an award citing Fernandez for her exemplary work as a public servant and businesswoman.

Both awards were given to the Dagupan vice mayor in ceremonies at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Burlingame, California, coinciding with the annual dinner and ball of DCANCI.

The "Dayew na Dagupan" award recognizes and pays tribute to the outstanding men and women who hail from Dagupan or have ancestry from Dagupan and have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.

On the other hand, Milipitas City commended Fernandez for her exemplary role in the establishment of the Dagupan-Milpitas sister city relationship that promotes good governance, youth education, respect for culture and true service for the people.

Fernandez now joins the ranks of notable "Dayew na Dagupan" awardees that include former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., former Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., former Dagupan City Administrator Alvin Fernandez and Milipitas City Mayor Jose Esteves.

Aquino: April 30 nonworking day in Dagupan for bangus festival

(LBG, GMA News)

Residents in Dagupan City in Pangasinan may get a long weekend of sorts as Monday, April 30, is a special non-working day there.

President Benigno Aquino III declared April 30 a special nonworking day so the city's residents can celebrate the traditional Bangus Festival.

Aquino issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 371 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. last April 25, according to a Malacañang statement.

The Bangus Festival kicked off on April 13 with the holding of Bangus Ed Carosa Parade and a Grand Opening Ceremony. The celebration will end on May 1.

Malacañang noted the Bangus Festival earned international attention in 2003 when Dagupan City won the Guinness World record for the longest barbecue pit.

At the time, participants put 2,000 barbecue grills side by side along a two-kilometer stretch of road along A.B. Fernandez Avenue, and barbecued 24,000 bangus.

While Peru overtook Dagupan's record in 2004, Dagupan recaptured it the following year.

According to an article on the Dagupan Bangus Festival website, the occasion was conceptualized in August 2001 and launched in 2002 as a part of the annual Pista'y Dayat celebration.

Pangasinan to stage hi-tech Palaro

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)

LINGAYEN, Philippines – This one promises to be a Palarong Pambansa like no other.

For the first time in history, action in this year’s Palaro, set May 6-13 in Pangasinan, can be viewed online – from any part of the globe.

“It’s a hi-tech Palaro. We have a website with 18 channels – one for TV and for each of the 17 sports disciplines,” said Vangie Padilla of the event’s social media team.

“The games can be seen on iPads, smart phones and androids. This is an advanced Palaro,” she said yesterday during an audio visual presentation at the Capitol Resort Hotel here.

It’s the first time that the Palaro is employing a full social media team for the livestream coverage of the games.

“Where ever you are in the world, you can watch this Palaro,” Padilla added.

Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr., a retired police officer and known as a workaholic, is leaving no stone unturned that this Palaro will set the trend for future stagings.

“We want to make this as the benchmark for future Palaro,” said Espino.

Rafael Baraan, the provincial administrator, said there’s a very good chance that President Aquino will grace the formal opening ceremony on May 7, a day after action begins.

Because of the punishing summer heat, organizers have decided against holding any field event from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., meaning only indoor games will be played during the period.

During the lull, the TV channel of the official Palaro website (www.palarongpambansa2012.com will be used to the hilt, with airing of replays, interviews, commentaries and talk shows.

In basketball alone, several cameras will be used, and while only one game will be aired live, in its own channel, there will be real-time scoring for the other ongoing matches.

“If you miss the matches live, you can watch the replays. We also have a photo gallery for each sport. Our social media team will work non-stop on this one,” Padilla added.

Other sports to be played include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, lawn tennis and volleyball.

Baraan said everything is falling into place regarding the hosting. He said they’re expecting close to 7,000 athletes and officials from the 17 different regions.

“The billeting areas are complete with only the finishing touches needed for the playing venues in Lingayen, San Carlos, Dagupan, Binmaley and Calasiao,” he said.

He also assured the safety of each delegate, citing the fact that Gov. Espino is the former regional director for the Philippine National Police.

“It will be fun in Pangasinan,” Baraan said.

Pangasinan NPC supports Aquino

(The Philippine Star)

LINGAYEN, Philippines – Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. yesterday said the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), now the ruling party in Pangasinan, supports President Aquino.

Espino said the exodus of politicians belonging to the Lakas party to NPC is a concrete way of support to the administration of Aquino, one of the stalwarts of the Liberal Party.

NPC members in Pangasinan are known to have supported then presidential candidate Aquino and have remained supportive to him up to now.

This developed as Espino returned to his original party in an oath-taking ceremony held at the Sison Auditorium last Monday.

“NPC was my original party. I left the party temporarily when its founding chairman, Ambassador Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco, became inactive,” he said.

The NPC, he said, has a fraternal bond with the aspirations of Aquino to improve the lives of Filipinos.

Former fifth district congressman Mark Cojuangco welcomed Espino back to the party.

Earlier, Cojuangco was rumored to be eyeing the governorship of Pangasinan. But he categorically denied this, saying the reports were orchestrated by political camps opposed to the Espino administration.

Pangasinan 95% ready for Palaro

(Leonardo V. Micua/PNA)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office on Tuesday said with 13 days yet to go before the Palarong Pambansa on May 6 to 12, they are now 95 percent ready for the games.

This was disclosed to newsmen by Teresita Velasco, newly designated officer-in-charge of the DepEd regional office after briefing the Provincial Board here on the preparation aspect of the Palarong Pambansa last Monday.

She said the remaining five percent is the bringing in of sports equipment by national officials of DepEd to the different playing venues set on April 27 or before.

This means that once the equipment are in, the games can begin anytime, she said.

Velasco lauded Governor Amado Espino Jr. of the host province of Pangasinan for being on top of the situation in every aspect of the Palaro preparation, adding that she was amazed to find out that every official of DepEd who has a role to play in the National Games has a counterpart official in the Provincial Government.

This makes for easier coordination between DepEd and the provincial government, she said, pointing out that this is only the first of its kind that ever happened in the history of the Palarong Pambansa.

“No wonder, the Governor wants to make this Palaro as the benchmark for all future national games,” said Velasco who assumed as DepEd OIC regional director only on April 2 this year vice former regional director Ligaya Miguel who retired.

As to the 17 delegations seeing action in the National Games, only the athletes of Region 4B from the Mindoro Marinduque Romblon Palawan area have so far arrived with athletes from the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region 3 slated to check in sometime Tuesday or Wednesday.

She said the billeting areas for the 10,000 athletes participating located in different school buildings in Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan and San Carlos cities and Bugallon, have already been in place, using part of the P38.2 million earlier allocated by DepEd central office.

Fourth District SP Member Jeremy Rosario, chair of the committee on education of the local legislative body, said the provincial government has allocated a total of P150 million to be used in this year’s Palaro, the bulk of which were used in improving the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) in Lingayen and other playing venues.

FIDE Master Pascua wins Bangus Festival chess tourney

By Alex Romeo R. Fernandez (ANL/ARRF-PIA 1, Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 24 (PIA) -- International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Haridas Pascua ruled the Dagupan Bangus Festival-Mayor Benjamin S. Lim Cup Chess Tournament held at the University of Pangasinan-PHINMA here on April 21 and 22.

Pascua, who hails from Mangatarem town, tallied a total of 6.5 points to win the title, ahead of top seed International Master Emmanuel Senador who also garnered the same points but had to concede to the lower place for having a lower tie-break score.

Each player received P8,500 cash prize.

Pascua, the highest rated player in Pangasinan, now has four titles to his name after winning in the same number of tournaments organized in the province since December last year.

Trailing them and tied for third to fifth place, with 6 points each, were Bryan Barcelon, Oriental Mindoro’s Palarong Pambansa bet Zejih Angelo Merilles and Ronaldo Alvez.

Prince Mark Aquino, Leodegario Ricaña and Emmanuel Lomibao tied for sixth to eight place, with 5.5 points each.

Meanwhile, John Jasper Laxamana of Pampanga took the solo lead in the Kiddie Category (14 year old and below) by reaping 6.5 points, thereby winning the P3,000 cash prize.

Tied for second to third place, with 6 points each, were Juan Carlos Presente and Dagupan City’s Fernando Mendoza. They were followed by John Marx Anastacio, Nezie Ay Merilles and Antonio Almodal III.

Special awards went to Ernali Bayot for the top lady prize, Leodicario Ricaña the top senior player and Jimmy Austria the top local player. Each received P1,000 cash.

The tournament, which was sponsored by the city government for its Bangus Festival celebration, was the first tournament conducted by the newly-formed Dagupan City Chess Club (DCCC).

According to tournament director and DCCC President German C. Francisco, the tournament has attracted a total of 190 participants in the kiddie and the open categories, combined.

This makes the tournament the biggest tournament organized by a city-based chess club in terms of number of participants, who came from such provinces as Oriental Mindoro, Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Tarlac, Pampanga, this province as well as Baguio City.

Councilor Redford Christian P. Erfe-Mejia, who led the awarding ceremony, said he hopes that chess tournaments will be one of the regular events of the annual Bangus Festival.

Cleanest river, outstanding Pangasinan LGUs to be honored on May 1

(PNA) , scs/lvm/lmmicua/rma

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 23 (PNA) — The cleanest river and riverbank and the top performing local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan will receive awards of recognition in ceremonies slated on May 1, climaxing this year’s “Pista’y Dayat” (Sea Festival) in the province.

The cleanest river and river bank will receive the coveted Pakar Awards while the top performing LGUs that were already previous recipients of regional and national awards will get the LGU Governance Awards during a program to be held at 10 a.m. att he Bañaga Bridge area in Bañaga, Bugallon, after the floats parade.

Pakar is the Pangasinan word for mangrove or “bakawan” in Filipino which was adopted by the province of Pangasinan under Governor Amado Espino Jr. as a symbol of recognition for clean rivers, estuaries and coastal areas.

Provincial Agriculture Officer Dalisay Moya, this year’s Pistay Dayat executive chairman and Pakar Awards committee head, said qualified for the awards are inland rivers like major rivers and its tributaries as well as coastal rivers that drain into the Lingayen Gulf.

Moya said recognition will also be given to LGU officials and non-government organizations who made excellent efforts in managing or propagating mangroves.

The criteria for judging involve the physical parameters of the river, foremost of which is its cleanliness; the LGU’s strong legislative agenda for the river; the LGU’s programs or projects on river protection; and sustainability programs.

Specifically, the search involves the brackish bodies of water that are salty. One LGU will be declared as winner of the search while two winners will be chosen in the barangay — one under category A and another under category B.

Moya said category A involves barangays which are beneficiaries of the provincial government’s river clean-up known by its name as ‘Ilog Ko, Bilayen tan Aroen Ko’ led by the Task Force Kalikasan.

Under category B are the barangays that have not been recipient of the clean-up.

“The search is still ongoing and the final round of evaluation will be conducted next week,” Moya said as she noted that the nominees will be announced afterwards along with the prizes.

The Pakar Awards is a joint effort of the Provincial Agriculture Office, Task Force Kalikasan and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The evaluation committee is composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Pangasinan State University, National Irrigation Administration, Agno Flood Control System, Philippine National Police and other non-government organizations.

On the other hand, the LGU Governance Awards honors LGUs (city, municipal and barangay that have been previously awarded by the Regional Development Council, the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Seal of Good Housekeeping and the DENR, among others.

Golden milkfish, now instant sensation in Dagupan

(PNA) , LDV/lvm/rma

DAGUPAN CITY, April 22 (PNA) - A rare golden milkfish (bangus) is currently the object of curiosity in Dagupan City more than a week after it was turned over to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here for research, breeding and propagation.

Now being raised in brackish water pond of the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Center (NIFTDC) in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan, the golden milkfish appeared to have become an instant sensation among aquaculturists overnight in just a few days.

Only 16 months old and measuring 50 centimeters at 1.2 kilos, it is now being raised in the brackish by BFAR-NIFTDC to let it grow and develop into sabalo.

Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR-NIFTDC, however, said it will take several more years in the pond to determine the sex of the golden milkfish and several more years before it can turn into a sabalo.

Nevertheless, whatever sex it has, BFAR-NIFTDC has the technology to make it breed and produce eggs that will soon turn into fry and fingerlings for distribution soon to the fish farmers.

The fish may be injected with hormones or mated with existing sabalos in the center until it lays eggs which will develop into fry and fingerlings.

Rosario confirmed the rare golden milkfish was turned over by Ariel Fernandez, a fish farmer from Barangay Linoc, Binmaley, to allow BFAR to study it and later breed and propagate it.

He theorized the golden milkfish may have been mixed with the fry or fingerlings bought by Fernandez from a concessionaire who may have caught this stuff from the wild.

"Who knows, from this rare golden milkfish, we can develop the more expensive specie of milkfish?," Rosario said, adding that the highest price that that fish farmers can sell his milkfish using the present specie is P130 to P140 per kilo.

He confirmed that this was the only first golden milkfish now being raised in the center since it opened sometime in the late 1990's.

Rosario confirmed that milkfish is the country's number one fish in the country today, followed closely by tilapia.

BFAR-NIFTDC has even developed a technology of reversing the sex of tilapia to produce the bigger male stock that can be the source of bigger amount of protein food.

Aquino to grace Palaro opening

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre (Sunnex)

LINGAYEN -- President Benigno Aquino III will be present at the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Palarong Pambansa to be hosted by the province of Pangasinan.

He will be the guest of honor and speaker during the May 7 opening ceremonies to be held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

This was announced by Governor Amado Espino Jr. during the meeting with Palarong Pambansa Executive Committee last Thursday attended by Education Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali.

More than 10,000 delegates from the 17 regions will be attending the annual national sporting event, which will be held in Pangasinan for the second time. This is slated on May 6 to 12.

Espino said this year's Palaro will be the benchmark for the next and future holding of Palarong Pambansa.

Meanwhile, the first Palaro delegation to arrive in the province is Palawan, composed of 278 athletes and officials. They left Palawan on April 15 and arrived in Pangasinan on April 16. They are housed at the Tandoc Elementary School in San Carlos City.

Mimaropa (Region IV-B) Education Supervisor Zenaida Dusong, delegation assistant, said they decided to come 11 days earlier instead of their former scheduled trip of April 27 to allow their athletes to train longer and to familiarize them with the different playing venues before the start of the national games.

"It's a long trip and we are thankful that we have arrived in Pangasinan safe and sound," she said.

Amado Gunda, head of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City delegation, said they were warmly welcomed by the school officials upon their arrival to their billeting site and they started to visit some of the playing venues like Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC), CSI Stadia, Pangasinan State University (PSU), and Capitol beachfront.

"So far, so good, mukhang well-prepared ang Pangasinan na maghost and we are happy for this opportunity to visit your province," he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Verna Nava-Perez, provincial secretary and head of Palaro secretariat, said thousands of athletes with their school officials and coaches are expected to arrive next week.

Perez said the province is all set and ready to host for the second time after 17 years the biggest national sports competition.

"As what Governor Amado T. Espino Jr.'s previous statement goes, Palarong Pambansa 2012 will prove to be the benchmark of all future Palaro," the provincial board secretary said.

Billeting schools for the different delegations are: Pangasinan National High School (Ilocos), Labrador Central School and Labrador High School (Cagayan Valley), Dagupan City National High School (Central Luzon), Estanza Elementary and Estanza National High School in Lingayen (Mimaropa); Tandoc Elementary and Tandoc National High School in San Carlos City (Calabarzon), Calasiao Central School (Bicol), San Carlos Central School II (Western Visayas), Lingayen I Central School (Central Visayas), Binmaley School of Fisheries and Tesda (Eastern Visayas), Binmaley North Elementary School and Binmaley I Central School (Zamboanga Peninsula), Domalandan Center Elementary School (Northern Mindanao) Calasiao Comprehensive National High School (Davao Region), SEPNAS in San Carlos City (Soccsksargen), San Carlos Central School I (Caraga), Polong Elementary School and Polong National High School (Armm), Bugallon Integrated School and Torres Elementary School (Cordillera Administrative Region), Dagupan West Central School I and Dagupan West Central School II (National Capital Region).

The playing venues for the various sports events, on the other hand, include Capitol Resort (archery), NRSCC (arnis, athletics, basketball, football, tennis and volleyball), CSI Stadia (badminton, and table tennis), PNP PPO (baseball and tennis), Governor's Resthouse (baseball), Binmaley Catholic School (basketball), Lyceum Northwestern University (basketball), Lingayen Municipal Plaza (boxing), Pangasinan Training and Development Center (chess), Pangasinan State University (football, and volleyball), Virgen Milagrosa University (football and tennis), Dagupan People's Astrodome (gymnastics), Arenas Gym (sepak takraw/sipa), Capitol Beachfront (softball), Dagupan Poolsite (swimming), DWAD (taekwondo), Calasiao Tennis Court (tennis), Tonton Elementary School in Lingayen (volleyball), Libsong Barangay Court in Lingayen (volleyball) with Baay Elementary School as alternate venue.

The best athletes coming from the country's 17 regions will outshine each other in various sports events that include archery, arnis, badminton, athletics, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw/sipa, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball.


Dagupan’s Bangus Festival goes green

By Alex Romeo R. Fernandez (ANL/ARRF-PIA 1, Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 20 (PIA) -- Three activities that are anchored on environmental protection will be or are being conducted for the Bangus Festival this year.

Festival Chairman and Councilor Marc Brian C. Lim said during a press conference held at Jollibee Lucao Branch here Wednesday that this year's festival is centered on the preservation of the environment.

Highlighting this is the Barangay Bingo Bonanza, for which residents may play bingo by exchanging waste plastics or plastic bottles for bingo cards. Winners in the game will win a television set and a sack of rice or grocery items.

A total of 25,000 bingo cards were printed, for which around 60,000 plastic bottles, equivalent to 12,000 waste plastics, have been exchanged, he said.

The plastics will be sold for recycling, the fund from which will go to the Waste Management Division Cooperative, he added.

The final event for the Bingo Bonanza will be held at the City Plaza on April 25.

On the next day, the city will hold a Youth Environment Summit at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome, where some 1,500 students are expected to arrive. According to Lim, participants will hear lectures from several environment experts.

Then, on April 30, the main event, "Kalutan ed Dalan street grilling" will also have an environmental tinge. He said participants to the street grilling will be given plastic containers to hold their trash for easier disposal later on.

In the same conference, the Jollibee group of companies, one of the sponsors of the festival, said it is also moving towards reducing the use of plastics by using washable utensils instead of disposable ones and by using paper bags.

Area Manager Ed Penuliar said the fast food chain does that through its Project Wash, where utensils are washed and sanitized using minimal amount of water.

Meanwhile, Lim said the city has been notified by the provincial government to comply with the banning the use of plastics in food service establishments during the Palarong Pambansa in May for which the city will hold some of the events.

Pangasinan Waters Now Red-Tide Free

(TheFishSite News Desk)

PHILIPPINES - You can now eat fish, shellfish, toxin-free. After three long months of being infected with Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) or red tide, Pangasinan waters are now declared free from the toxic substance.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources lifted the shellfish ban on 3 April, spurred by laboratory tests on shellfishes gathered from Alaminos, Bolinao, and Anda for the past three successive weeks that turned out negative or showed only negligible level of red tide toxin.

Dr Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries and Technology Development Center, said residents and fisherfolks can now harvest, transport, sell, and eat shellfishes, such as oysters, mussels, and other bivalves as these are now free from the poisonous toxins.

The red-tide episode which was officially recorded on 27 January in Wawa, Bani spread through the waters of Anda, Bolinao and Alaminos City in the first quarter of 2012. Bani was first cleared of the toxins on 29 February.

Public schools ready to receive transferees from private schools, says DepEd

By Alex Romeo R. Fernandez (ANL/ARRF-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 18 (PIA) -- Public elementary and high schools are ready to accommodate transferees from private schools next enrollment, according to the Department of Education (DepED).

Dr. Viraluz S. Raguindin, Pangasinan II Schools Division Superintendent, said in a television interview Tuesday that public schools are prepared to handle the expected migration of students resulting from the impending increase in tuition fees in the private schools.

Raguindin clarified that it is not the overcrowding that would result from the migration that the department is concerned with, but rather with the proper documentation of the transferees.

She said public schools are accepting transferees and letting them continue their education even without their report cards (Form 137) and clearances, although she advised the parents to secure at least the report cards before enrolling their children.

The parents should pay their balances and obtain the required documents before the school year ends. Failing that, the students cannot be declared officially enrolled, thus cannot be promoted to higher school levels, she said citing three such cases that happened in the division last year.

The issue surfaced after DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro bared on Monday that some private elementary and high schools have applied for tuition fee increase, including more than 100 in Manila alone.

Luistro said applicants are more likely to have their applications approved than not because the increase will be used for salaries of teachers to make them capable of coping up with the rise in prices of basic commodities.

Dr. Cornelio Aquino of DepEd Pangasinan II Division said in an interview that no less than seven schools in the division have applied for an increase.

Though it has not seen significant transfer of enrolment caused by tuition fee increases, the DepEd said enrolment in public schools will still increase because of the increase in population.

“Congestion, insufficient number of textbooks and chairs, all will be affected,” Raguindin said as she noted that the department addresses these problems one school at a time by putting high priority on schools that are “hot colored,” or those that are assessed as lacking many facilities.

Meanwhile, Raguindin urged the parents, teachers and school staffs to join the Brigada Eskuwela to help clean and renovate school rooms in May as part of the National Schools Maintenance Week.

Artificial river system needed for a flood- free Dagupan and Calasiao-DPWH

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

ROSALES –The best solution to put an end to the recurring flood in Dagupan City and Calasiao town is to construct an alternative river system, a public works official said. Eng. Edgardo Paragas, chief of the Agno Flood Control System of the Department of Public Works & Highway, said there was a study by a Japanese company that to spare Dagupan and Calasiao of flood, an alternative river would be constructed from San Barbara town, passes through Calasiao,and empties into the coastal side of Dagupan. “Ang Sinocalan River hindi kaya iyong volume ng tubig na dumadaan ngayon. (Sinocalan River could no longer accommodate the volume of water that passes there),” he explained. Paragas said the Japanese suggestion was the best solutions compared to the proposals of other sectors that the river bed of Sinocalan would be dredged from San Barbara to Dagupan City and the construction of dikes along the river banks in Dagupan City to counter the rise of water during the high tide season. “The Japanese study is the best! The massive dredging and the dike thing have not undergone a thorough study while the Japanese diligently studied this artificial river,” he stressed. The Agno Flood Control boss however said that compared to the P2 billion that would cost the coffer for the massive dredging of the Sinocalan River, the alternative river will cost the government P10 billion. Meanwhile, Paragas said the query at the internet version of Northern Watch by environmentalist professor Nick Melecio about the status of Phase 3 of the flood control body projects has been at the National Economic Development Authority. Melecio asked how Paragas has addressed the seven kilometer gap between the towns of San Manuel and Asingan in Pangasinan where dam water discharges, inundating the towns and cities of Calasiao and Sta. Barbara and Dagupan and Urdaneta during the typhoon in March 2004 and typhoon Pepeng in October 2009 . Paragas said NEDA has been looking for a country that could bankroll the project. He said the Japanese was not interested to finance it but the economic body looks for four prospective countries like Mainland China and Spain to finance it.

Pangasinan State U fetes 2,597 graduates for 2012

(JCR/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) -- Some 2,597 graduates of the Pangasinan State University (PSU) marched thru the aisles of the Stadia, this city to mark the end of tertiary education and the start of a longer journey in life.

Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim, who served as the commencement speaker, congratulated all the graduates and their parents and guardians who sent them to school.

He also exhorted the graduates to think of a good future and become productive Pangasinenses.

“Life is complicated but never forget where you came from,” he said.

Atty. Janet Abuel, regional director of the Department of Budget who served as the guest speaker, inspired the graduates by re-telling her experiences when she applied for a job after graduation and how she topped the Bar exams in 1991.

She advised them to never give up in reaching for their dreams and cited the life story of Abraham Lincoln who, despite encountering many failures in his life, lived up to be one of the most popular presidents of the United States of America.

PSU President Victoriano Estira enjoined the graduates to live up to the graduation theme of PSU graduates as global citizens who are adaptive, innovative and transformative.

The graduates came from the eight campuses of PSU – Lingayen, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Urdaneta, Sta. Maria, Asingan, Binmaley and Infanta and the Graduate School, Open University Systems and the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program or ETEEAP.

Bangus Fest kicks-off in Dagupan City

By Venus H. Sarmiento (JCR/VHR-PIA 1, Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 15 (PIA) -- A procession of colorful and creatively-designed, Bangus-inspired floats awed onlookers as these slowly traversed Dagupan’s major thoroughfares to signal the start of the much anticipated Bangus Festival 2012.

The Float Parade dubbed Bangus Ed Carosa, was one of the highlights of the annual event. This was followed by the Parade of Bancas from barangay Calmay to Babaliwan and the blessing of the river led by Most Reverend Socrates B. Villegas of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese.

A floral offering and a ceremonial dispersal of fingerlings was done afterwards.

Prior to the parade, the Bangus festival committee led the kick-off ceremony held at Robinsons Place in Calasiao town attended by Mayors Benjie Lim and Roy Macanlalay of Dagupan City and Calasiao, respectively.

In a press conference in the said place, Lim said the festival’s return of investments is not a one shot deal but will definitely be gained in various aspects where every Dagupeño will be benefited.

He said he was also happy that the Bangus Festival, now on its 11th year, paved the way for other cities and towns in the province to hold their own festivals showcasing the particular products where their town is known for.

On the same day, the unveiling of the Art Walk and Sculpture and the opening of a trade fair featuring Pangasinan’s Best was held at the City Plaza. A grand fireworks display was set at 10 p.m.

6 outstanding Pangasinenses cited

By Eva Visperas (The Philippine Star)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan ,Philippines – Six Pangasinenses who have made a distinguishing mark in their respective fields were ho-nored with the ASNA Awards during the Agew na Pangasinan (Pangasinan Day) celebration here last Wednesday.

The Balitok awards, the highest given as they denote gold in the Pangasinan language, were Hilarion Henares Jr. (national economic development) and lawyer Gabriel Singson (business/banking and finance).

Henares, an economist, educator, businessman and writer, is a grandson of Daniel Maramba, a revolutionary hero and the seventh governor of Pangasinan. Singson was the first governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The four other ASNA awardees were Ermin Garcia Jr. (journalism), Jose Datuin (visual arts), Amadeo Perez Jr. (government service/public administration), and retired Gen. Jose Magno (military service).

Garcia is the publisher of the hard-hitting Sunday Punch newspaper and former publisher of Manila Times; Datuin, an international visual artist, and Perez, the chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan.

“We take pride in your lives and works which have touched the lives of your provincemates, and you make us all proud,” Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said in his message.

More LGUs eye Pag-IBIG Fund-assisted housing programs

By Venus H. Sarmiento (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 13 –- Aside from the municipality of Sto. Tomas, more local government units expressed their desire to avail of housing projects funded by the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund).

Pag-IBIG Fund’s Public Relations Officer Artemio Laroya said some of the LGUs who expressed intention for the project have properties ready for construction of the houses.

The city of San Carlos and the municipalities of Calasiao, Urbiztondo, Infanta, Bani and San Nicolas are some of the LGUs eyeing the Pag-IBIG Fund-assisted housing projects, he said.

The Fund’s first LGU assisted project in Pangasinan is the municipality of Sto.Tomas where a memorandum of understanding was signed between and among Mayor Vivien Villar of the municipality of Sto Tomas; Leo Sy, president of Hebei Philippines Corporation as the contractor; and Marilene Acosta, vice president for North Luzon of the Pag-Ibig Fund as financier for the housing component under its End-User Financing program, last month.

The ‘Villa Sto. Tomas Housing’ project offers 352 units of affordable houses and lots in a 3.5 hectare property for Sto. Tomas officials and employees.

Laroya also bared that a Presidential Proclamation dated September 30, 2011, assigned a housing program for the Philippine National Police personnel. It is set to be constructed in a four-hectare lot at the Camp Greg Military Reservation in Bayambang town.

Laroya encouraged other LGUs with vacant lots to also avail of the housing program as it is much cheaper compared to the purchase of lots and houses.

Because casual employees and emergency workers are mandatorily covered by Pag-IBIG Fund, they can avail of the housing program.

The project is in line with the national government’s commitment to provide quality housing at an affordable cost for its employees.

Pangasinan Day to feature local orthography

By April Montes (ANL/AMM-PIA 1 Pangasinan with reports from PIO)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 12 (PIA) -- The province of Pangasinan pays tribute to local culture and language as it officially launched its own orthography on its 432nd founding anniversary celebration held today at the Capitol Plaza in this town.

The orthography aims to revive Pangasinan’s culture and language so that the roots and identity of Pangasinenses will be preserved and enhanced.

“It is an added cap to the province’s culture as the dialect will now have a roadmap as far as proper usage of words and correct spelling is concerned,” cited provincial administrator Rafael Baraan.

Serious efforts to come up with its own orthography has been made by the province, following the rules and procedures prepared by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), a working group tasked to conduct, link and support studies for the development, promotion and preservation of Filipino language and other native dialects in the country.

“The process set by KWF involves thorough studies and researches which include public consultation and deliberation before its finalization and approval just like what Pangasinan did,” explained Jose Laderas Santos, chairperson of the KWF.

The KWF started this project last year with the support of validators from the academe, researchers which include those from the non-government and the “Ulopan na Pansiansiay Salitan Pangasinan” (Association for the Preservation of the Pangasinan Language).

Pangasinan was then able to mark a record being the first and the only province in the country to have its own orthography, setting certain standards when it comes to local alphabet, syllabication, spelling and use of punctuation marks.

During the commemorative program of the “Agew na Pangasinan” (Pangasinan Day), Santos read the official adoption of Pangasinan orthography which was turned over to the province by the KWF commissioners.

Embarking on Pangasinan orthography addresses the 10 point agenda in basic education of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to become a trilingual nation, learning English, Filipino and their regional dialect as required under the Department of Education’s K+12 program.

Palarong Pambansa goes eco-friendly in Pangasinan

(PNA)

DETERMINED to make this year's Palarong Pambansa the most memorable ever in the history of Pangasinan, the provincial government has showcased samples of ecofriendly bags to be distributed to all delegates of the annual School-based sports fest set from May 5 to 12.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said the athletes too must use eco-friendly bags which are now being used in many malls in response to the universal fi ghts against climate change. The two top offi cials of the host province said the promotion of the eco-friendly bags was the fi rst in Palaro history, hoping it would set the benchmark for future host provinces of the prestigious sports event.


Palarong Pambansa, a breeding ground for world-class athletes

(PNA)

AS the Palarong Pambansa 2012 draws nearer, the Department of Education looks forward to discovering a new batch of skillful athletes to represent the country in international sporting competitions. "To me, Palarong Pambansa is a special sporting event. For one, the competing athletes are young students who, from pre-competition preparations up to the actual competitions, work doubly hard to make their Schools and region proud. And second, this is where we discover extraordinary talents that bring glory to our country," said Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, FSC. He is excited to witness for the second time the Palarong Pambansa that will be hosted this year by the provincial government of Pangasinan led by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. which will run from May 6-12. It will be participated in by thousands of elementary and secondary students from public and private Schools.

Palarong Pambansa has become the breeding ground of some of the great national athletes since it started in 1948. Among Palarong Pambansa talents are Elma Muros and Lydia de Vega for Athletics; Diane Castillejo for Tennis; Joper Esqueta and Gabriel Magnaye for Badminton; Violito Paylo for Boxing; Enchong Dee and Akiko Thompson for Swimming; Joan Chan for Archery; and Mark Paragua for Chess. The Palarong Pambansa also prides itself for producing some of the great Philippine Basketball Association players such as Danny Ildefonso, Marlou Aquino, Willie Miller, Samboy Lim, and Kirby Raymundo. Azkals players Chiefy Caligdong and Kristopher Camcam are also products of the Palarong Pambansa.

"I always believe in the greatness of Filipinos when it comes to sports. I am confident that a player or two in this year's Palarong Pambansa will become a world champion in the future," Luistro said. The sporting events in this year's Palarong Pambansa are athletics, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics (women's artistic gymnastics, men's artistic gymnastic and rhythmic gymnastics), sipa takraw, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball. For the differently-abled, there is goalball, aquatics, bocce, long jump, shot put and 100, 200, and 400 meter dash.

Cape Bolinao lighthouse in Pangasinan closed to tourists

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)

The Cape Bolinao lighthouse, built in 1905 by Filipino, British and American engineers, is one of the five lighthouses in the country. Perseus Echeminada Zoom

PANTAR, Pangasinan, Philippines – For decades, the Cape Bolinao lighthouse atop Punta Piedra Point here has guided vessels.

The lighthouse, built in 1905 by Filipino, British and American engineers, is one of the five lighthouses in the country and the second tallest, next to the Cape Bojeador lighthouse in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

It was supposed to be a major tourist destination in the country during the holidays. But today, with the advent of the global positioning system (GPS), the 30.78-meter tower that had guided vessels en route to Hong Kong, Japan and the United States for several decades, has been closed to visitors.

Its barracks reduced to ruin, its rusty gates locked, visitors are now barred from climbing the 140-step winding stairway up to the illumination room, 76.2 meters above sea level.

When this reporter visited the landmark noon of April 2, no caretaker or even a watchman was around; it was deserted.

Upon reaching the area, the ruins of what appear to be the barracks of personnel manning the lighthouse greet visitors. A fenced solar panel can also be seen but not a single signage indicates if the solar facility is working.

With no access to the lighthouse, tourists turn their attention to the pristine beach of Cape Bolinao.

The original third order apparatus of the lighthouse was made in England and the lantern came from France, making the replacement of spare parts difficult. Thanks to the ingenuity of Filipino mechanics, accurate replicas of the original parts were made.

For the first 80 years of its operation, the lighthouse apparatus ran on kerosene. By the 1980s, the Pangasinan I Electric Cooperative (Panelco) extended its power lines to Barangay Pantar, which is now a favorite tourist site, with its impressive rock formations and panoramic view.

The lighthouse has been slated for conservation, with a P19-million budget from the government. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the sole owner of the lighthouse under the Adopt-A-Lighthouse Program, has joined hands with the municipality of Bolinao to improve and conserve the lighthouse.

The PCG will be responsible in maintaining the equipment, and Bolinao town, in preserving the lighthouse and its environs.

The sad plight of the Bolinao lighthouse is evident, too, in the white sand beaches and the dusty roads leading to them.

In this reporter’s two-day stay in a local beach resort, it was surprising to learn that tourist arrivals have been down in the past several years.

An afternoon stroll on the white sand beach came as an eerie experience since no swimmers around. “The area is like a ghost beach, not a single soul dares to roam around here,” a vendor told The STAR in the local dialect.

In the beach resort, which boasts of a swimming pool and other amenities, no other guests checked in. “Our bookings start on Wednesday to Sunday,” said the resort’s caretaker.

Except for barangay watchmen manning two checkpoints and collecting P20 per vehicle, no other government personnel were visible along the rough and dusty roads, parts of which were either cemented or covered by tall grasses, posing danger to motorists.

Travel from Manila can also been an ordeal to visitors going to the lighthouse for the first time, as no signages on the highway guide motorists to the landmark.

Travel time could last for seven hours. Tricycles and kuligligs (tractors) litter the roads of Pangasinan and Tarlac. Even in Alaminos, home of the popular Hundreds Islands, no signages guide motorists – only project billboards bearing the face of a provincial politician dot the highway.

Pangasinan schedules summer events

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre (Sunnex)

DAGUPAN CITY -- Big events will be happening this summer in different areas in Pangasinan.

The town of Bayambang will practically open the festivities with the celebration of its annual fiesta with its own Malangsi Fish-tival as highlight.

Simultaneously, the Easter Sunday procession and the Siglat Bayambang National High School Alumni fun run was held Sunday morning. In the evening, the Mutya ng Liga talent night was held.

Scheduled Monday morning (April 9) is the launching of the Trade Fair and the holding of different sports activities.

In April 13, a street party will be held with street dancing competition and cultural presentations already set. Mayor Ricardo Camacho will lead the Malangsi Fish-tival in the afternoon, wherein townspeople will grill fresh water fishes abundant in the town as live bands perform.

The religious activity (procession) and civic parade will be held Sunday, April 15. In the evening is the grand ballroom and local government unit night. The winners in the search for Mutya ng Liga will likewise be presented to the people.

The much-awaited Bangus Festival of Dagupan City will formally open on April 13.

Bangus Festival executive chairman Councilor Marc Brian Lim and the city officials headed by Mayor Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez will lead the grand opening ceremony.

Big events are scheduled on April 13. These include the Bangus ed Carosa (float parade); start of the photo contest, as well as, the opening of the Artwalk and the Bangus Sculpture, and the Pangasinan’s Best Trade Fair.

There will also be a parade of bancas from Calmay to Babaliwan, with Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas leading the blessing of the river.

The Kalutan ed Dalan Street Party will be held evening of April 30. Part of A. B. Fernandez Avenue and Perez Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic for the party, and several bands will be performing simultaneously at the stages strategically located within the two main commercial districts.

In San Carlos City, their own Mango-Bamboo Festival will start on April 23 and will end on April 28.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Government’s Summer Triple Treat will start this Wednesday with the province’s celebration of Agew na Pangasinan. The province’s foundation day is on April 5, but the celebration was moved to latter date as April 5 falls on Holy Week.

This will be followed by the annual Pista’y Dayat, which will run the longest this year because of the national sports event that will be held first week of May.

The Pista’y Dayat events will start on April 11 and will end on May 16. The events will be held within the Capitol Compound in Lingayen and at the beach front.

The culminating event is the Palarong Pambansa 2012 hosted by the province of Pangasinan. This is scheduled on May 6 to 12.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. said Pangasinan’s hosting of this event will be benchmark for future Palarong Pambansa.

Majority of the playing venues and billeting schools are located in Lingayen. Other playing venues and billeting schools are located at the nearby towns of Binmaley, Bugallon, Calasiao and Labrador and the cities of San Carlos and Dagupan.

1 killed, 2 wounded in Pangasinan on Holy Week

By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

A welder was fatally shot while two others were seriously wounded while having a drinking spree in sitio Caranglaan Barangay Bolo, Labrador on the night of Holy Wednesday.

Police identified the lone fatality as Zemy Valeriio, 32, welder, of Barangay Bolo, Labrador who was pronounced dead on arrival at the Don Mariano Verzosa Memorial Hospital (VMHS) in Lingayen.

Wounded were identified as Reynaldo Valerio, 37, carpenter of Barangay Magtaking, Bugallon; and Alvin Alcadeza, 30, of Sitio Malunec, also in Barangay Magtaking who were also rushed to the VMHS but later transferred to the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City.

Investigation showed that the victims had a heated arguments earlier with suspects Renan Pacho, Rogelio de la Rosa and Romeo Molina, all of Sitio Kadampat, Barangay Bolo, while having a drinking spree in Sitio Kadampat.

The altercation resulted in a fist fight, which was later pacified that led the victims to leave the place.

The victims, instead of heading home, dropped by Sitio Caranglaan where they continued their drinking spree. Unknowingly, the suspects followed them.

The suspects, without provocation shot the victims with the use of 12-gauge shotgun and subsequently fled the crime scene, police said.

Asna Awards to honor outstanding Pangasinenses

(JCR/AMM-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 6 (PIA) -- The province of Pangasinan will give the highest expression of recognition to seven outstanding Pangasinenses who made a mark and great contribution to humanity during the Asna Awards which will be held at the Sison Auditorium in this town on April 11.

Governor Amado Espino, Jr. cited that the Asna Awards will inspire others, especially the youth, to emulate the achievements and leadership skills of the awardees and strive hard to succeed in their chosen fields.

This year, the main award called “balitok,” meaning gold or treasure, goes to Hilarion Henares of Sta. Barbara town and to Gabriel Singson of Lingayen town. Henares is a descendant of Don Daniel Maramba (governor of the province from 1916 to 1922). He is an economist, educator, businessman and writer. On the other hand, Singson is a lawyer and the former governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Other awardees include Ermin Garcia, Jr. of Dagupan City, a journalist and publisher of Sunday Punch, a local newspaper; Jose Datuin of Dagupan City, an international sculptor and artist; Ambassador Amadeo Perez, Jr. of Urdaneta City, former mayor of the city, congressman at the fifth district and the current chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO); Dr. Antonio Tamayo of Malasiqui town, founder of Perpetual Help College; and General Jose Magno of Pozorrubio town, a retired general.

They were nominated by a person or a non-government organization; a Filipino citizen, born in Pangasinan or has Pangasinan ancestry; not an incumbent elected public official; a true Pangasinan at heart, happy and proud to be one; complied with all the rules governing nomination; and alive and able to attend the awards night.

“Asna” is an ancient term for ‘asin’ (salt) which the province’s name was derived. It describes the good quality of a man’s character or his demeanor. These awardees are compared to an invaluable grain of salt that connotes selfless and committed service to their fellow Pangasinenses.

Sports academy mulled for Pangasinan bets

  • Source:www5.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=794492
  • Thursday, April 5, 2012 12:00 AM
By Eva Visperas (The Philippine Star)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Gov. Amado Espino Jr will open a sports academy where young local athletes would be trained to become members of future national teams at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center which serves as the main hub for the Palarong Pambansa 2012 slated May 6-12 in this capital town.

Espino said the youth sports program is part of his continuing commitment to help develop sports and produce young Pangasinan athletes who could be trained during summer vacation and developed for future big games, including the Olympics.

The athletes will be given free training with instructors and coaches in their chosen fields, according to Espino.

The elementary pupils with potentials will be honed in the sports academy until they reach high school or college if they opt to study in Pangasinan, Espino told local newsmen yesterday during the briefing on the preparations for the Palarong Pambansa.

He said his sports program has been lauded by no less than Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

The governor said the provincial government will also give cash incentives to Pangasinan athletes who will win medals in the coming Palaro.

Meanwhile, he said works on the sports facilities and billeting areas are in full blast in time for the games.

He also said there is a good collaboration among the provincial government of Pangasinan, the Department of Education, Philippine Sports Commission and other agencies to ensure success of this biggest sporting event for young students.

Palarong Pambansa 2012 to showcase live streaming of games

(ANL/VHS-PIA1 Pangasinan)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 4 (PIA) -- The province of Pangasinan has launched the live streaming of games for the Palarong Pambansa 2012 which the province will host from May 6 to 12.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. himself said viewers and reporters need not go to the four venues of the Palaro to watch the games as everything can be viewed in one place at real time thru live streaming.

“This is another first in the history of Palarong Pambansa,” Espino said during a press conference held here to launch the province’s triple summer treat which includes the Pangasinan Day and Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival), aside from the Palaro.

The main playing ground will be at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen town and the three other game venues are Binmaley town and the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos.

Espino said a room for the national and local media will be put up equipped with monitors and computers to show the games and happenings in various areas, to be manned by computer and information technology experts of the province.

“We will show the country that the Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan is the best and will be the bench mark of future Palaro events,” Espino said.

Pangasinan observes 2012 Earth Hour

(ANL/AMM-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

DAGUPAN CITY, April 3 (PIA) -- The province of Pangasinan joined the rest of the world in its observance of the Earth Hour last March 31.

Pangasinenses heeded the call to support this global environmental and sustainable action by switching off lights last Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in partnership with the RLL Group of Jollibee Stores presented a program dubbed “Bee Ignited” in Calasiao town to celebrate this largest environmental event.

More than a hundred participants pledged their obligation to Mother Earth and availed of sky lanterns, which they lighted and released simultaneously up into the air after lights were turned off. These sky lanterns cost P250 that came along with a meal from the fast food restaurant.

Engr. John Liwanag, executive assistant to the PENR officer, cited that proceeds of the program will go to PENRO and Jollibee’s “Save the Environment” projects. These include information, education and communication (IEC) campaign on climate change for Pangasinenses as well as production and procurement of seedlings to realize the National Greening Program.

In some areas of the province, restaurants made use of LED (light-emitting diode) as a source of light for their customers’ convenience while lights were shut down. Further, the youth in Manaoag town also rendered their involvement by lighting candles outside the Our Lady of the Rosary church during the Earth Hour.

This global movement was initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s largest and most experienced conservation organization, which began as a single-city initiative in 2007 at Sydney, Australia.

Feature: 4Ps making a difference in the lives of Filipinos

(ANL/AMM-PIA 1 Pangasinan)

When we were still kids, we believed in fairy tales; in stories like, “Once upon a time, there was a poor and unhappy lass who had nothing at all. Not until a fairy came and waved her magic wand turning her into a lovely princess whom the prince fell in love with…”

Indeed, we loved fantasy stories made people transcend poverty and live a happy life ever after. However, we later learn that neither is there a fairy nor a lamp, which when rubbed releases a genie who will grant us our wishes. In reality, no amount of magic can change one’s life. And that, it is only through hard work and perseverance that one can transcend poverty.

The government being the pivotal force in a nation is helping its citizens to push for the attainment of the said goals. In addressing these objectives, it implemented through one of its agencies – the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) a conditional cash transfer program known as the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).”

Let’s get to know this program and how will it benefit its beneficiaries.

The 4Ps is a poverty reduction strategy which is more than a welfare program. It also deals with structural inequities in society and supports human capital development of the poor, therefore, breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty by providing grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education of children aged zero to 14.

In determining the beneficiaries of this program, three steps are set to identify deserving recipients. First, provinces were selected using the following criteria: (a) 20 poorest provinces based on the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES); (b) poorest provinces in six regions not listed in the 20 poorest provinces; and (c) five cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), two cities in the Visayas, two cities in Mindanao and one in the Cordillera.

Second, the selection of the poorest municipalities from the above provinces is based on small Area Estimates (SAE) and FIES where saturation surveys of households are being conducted. And third, computerized selection of the poorest households based on a ranking system using Proxy-Means Test (PMT) developed for the program. The PMT assesses socio-economic characteristics such as: ownership of assets or appliances; type of housing unit; level of educational attainment of household heads; and access to water and sanitation facilities.

Beneficiaries will receive the following from the program: P6, 000 a year or P500 per month per household for health and nutrition expenses; and P3, 000 for one school year or 10 months or P300 per month for every child for their educational expenses. A maximum of three children per household is allowed. A household with three qualified children shall have a subsidy of P1, 400 per month or P15, 000 annually as long as they comply with the conditions to avail of the cash grants.

These conditions include pregnant women must get pre-natal and post-natal care, and be attended during childbirth by a skilled or trained health professional; parents or guardians must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mother’s classes, and parent effectiveness seminars; children zero to five years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups and vaccines; children aged three to five years old must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the time; and, children six to 14 years old must enroll in elementary or high school and attend at least 85 percent of the time. Non-compliance to the conditions will result in the suspension of cash grants or dropping from the program.

The DSWD in coordination with the Advisory Council composed of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the local government units’ (LGU) representatives at the national, regional and municipal levels will verify compliance every two months using monitoring tools developed for the program. The monthly cash grants shall be received by the most responsible person in the household, usually the mother, through a Landbank cash card. Each household beneficiary will receive the cash grants for at most, five years.

Given this program which empowers the poor to cross over from their lives of poverty for a better tomorrow, Filipinos are ensured that fantasies may come into reality even without supernatural beings around. Now, all that’s left is for them to use their grants wisely because their lives still lie in their hands. The government serves solely as a helping hand to give them assistance for them to make a difference in their future.

Dagupan seals ties with the State of Hawaii

(CIO)

DAGUPAN City has forged an agreement with the State of Hawaii, the city and county of Honolulu, and the county of Maui for cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, culture, education, health, tourism, and environmental protection, and social development.

Mayor Benjamin Lim, along with other members of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), signed the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation during his recent visit to the 50th American state.

The other principal signatories of the MOU are Neil Abercrombie, governor of Hawaii; Peter Carlisle, mayor, City and County of Honolulu; Alan Arakawa, mayor of Maui; and Oscar Rodriguez, president, LCP.

Lim underscored the benefits that the city will significantly gain from this tie, especially in strengthening the international relationship between the contracting parties and expand economic opportunities for cooperation.

“More importantly, there is a common desire to maintain a close cultural, commercial, and financial bridge between ethnic Filipinos living in the State of Hawaii with their relatives, friends, and business counterparts living in Dagupan City,” said Lim.

The contracting parties agreed to carry out joint programs and projects that may contribute to improving the quality of life of their respective constituents, increase the exchange of knowledge, information, experiences and best practices that can contribute to the economic and social development, foster mutual peace and goodwill, and promote mutual understanding of the cultures of the parties through education, exchanges, and shared programs.

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