READ MY LIPS, BENJIE… OR MY CIGAR SWINGS, Former President Fidel V. Ramos appears to be telling an all-ears Mayor Benjamin S. Lim of Dagupan who hosted a luncheon forum for FVR with a select group of local officials, civic leaders and non-government organizations at the Star Plaza Friday. despite proddings, Ramos merely dropped hints, no categorical stand for or against President Arroyo. (PStar Photo by Butch F. Uka)

Only clear about Gloria exit by 2007

LIGHT-HEARTED but earnest efforts of a “friendly” home province crowd to get a categorical answer from him on whether he is breaking away from or still standing by President Arroyo failed to budge former president Fidel V. Ramos from his “confusing” rhetoric about the real status of his relations with the Chief Executive.

Beyond repeating what he had scrawled in marginal notes to Secretary Gabriel Claudio’s press statement of January 12 that “ my support is for the national interest – not for particular leaders,” Ramos chose to be flippant about nearly every question asked related to the issue in the open forum that followed his remarks at the Star Plaza hotel at noon.

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By Venus May H. Sarmiento

“TOO much politics, too little work, too little development” was how Governor Victor Agbayani described the current political crisis in the country during the Pangasinan Tri-Media Association (Patrima) media officers’ courtesy call on the governor Thursday.

Agbayani said he and other local officials can feel the pressure especially in the constant and abrupt changes of cabinet secretaries where local officials are often called in because each new secretary would have a project of his own.

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HOUSE Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said he believes that former President Fidel V. Ramos is dead serious in helping unite the country.

De Venecia, president of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats of which former President Ramos is also chairman emeritus, told newsmen that “Ramos is not playing games “and” is dead serious in helping unite the country.

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LINGAYEN – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the Department of Budget and Management to release P500 million to be used for improvement of the buildings and facilities of various public schools throughout the country and consequently start off soon what she called “high school vouchers program.”

Speaking at the Pangasinan National High School here where she distributed textbooks, health cards and rice to pupils and students, the President vowed to give priority to the problem of education in the country, starting it during the first few weeks of New Year.

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ALAMINOS City – The Hundred Islands here is now one of the best destinations of foreign tourists in Asia.

This was revealed in an online survey of best places in Asia conducted by the Asia-Pacific Management Forum (APMF), monitored by the Alaminos City government.

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HOUSE Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr. said he is not inclined to support the no election proposal by the Consultative Commission (Concom) due to conflict of interest.

He said the people will become suspicious if he and other members of Congress will endorse the proposal which will benefit them and other incumbent officials.
De Venecia told newsmen however that they are willing to throw this question to the people in the plebiscite to be conducted sometime in June that will ratify the amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

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A PALL of gloom descended upon residents of barangay Tandoc in San Carlos City when eight of their barangaymates went home in coffins after a road accident along the national highway in barangay Urayong, Bauang, La Union last Tuesday.

Grieving most for the loss of five of its members was the Prado family led by Benedicto, alias “Jimmy”, 45, who lost his wife and four children in the tragedy with two more, plus a nephew, still in serious condition at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union.

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By FREDDIE G. LAZARO

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur – The role of Ilocos Sur as main source of laborers for the sugar cane plantation in Hawaii 100 years ago was finally recognized with the unveiling of the “sakada” monument at Port Salomague here.

Doing the unveiling honors was visiting Hawaiian Gov. Linda Lingle and Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, last Sunday in the same port where the last of 6,000 migratory workers for Hawaii boarded a U.S. ship bound for that Pacific Island in 1946.

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A ROBBERY try on an overseas worker Thursday afternoon on Nable street in barangay Tapuac, this city, was foiled partly due to the beat system being implemented by the city police.

Couple Jun and Milagros Osilla had just withdrawn P190,000 from the Metrobank branch on A.B. Fernandez avenue when a man suddenly tried to grab Milagros’ bag as she was walking toward the Pangasinan Medical Center on Nable Street, police investigators said.

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