BANGUS FESTIVAL 2006 is heralded by Dagupan City officials led by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim (shown reading some statistics) and Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez (left) during a preliminary launching and press conference held at the City Museum Friday. A showcase grilling of bangus followed with PRISAA delegates participating in the kalutan at the city plaza. . At right is the festival chairman, Nick Aquino.

Central Visayas won eight golds to dominate lat Friday’s swimming event in the Private Schools Athletic Association national games held at Dagupan’s Olympic-size swimming pool.

It was challenged in the pool however by western Visayas which won in five swimming events.

Central Visayas earned its victories when Todd Aris Belleza, Ian Rusiana, Andrie Yosef Ynclino and Andrew Dequina snatched the golds in the 200-meter relay.

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By Venus May H. Sarmiento

LINGAYEN – Governor Victor E. Agbayani, speaking as guest of honor at the 15th Anniversary celebration of the Philippine National Police Wednesday at the PNP Provincial Office here, reminded uniformed men of the important relationship of peace and order and development

He outlined his administration’s four pillars of development as: Infrastructure, Agriculture, Human Infrastructure which includes health, nutrition and population management and Tourism and Social Order which includes the environment of peace and progress.

“Without peace and order, development cannot flourish,” Agbayani said. ‘If there is strong development, there will also be a better climate of peace and order”.

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A LEADER of one of the militant groups in Pangasinan was shot and wounded Tuesday night in barangay Puelay, Villasis town.

The victim was identified as Mariano Sepnio, 45, vice chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) who is also an employee of the Villasis Water District.

Sepnio was walking alone along a road after alighting from his owner-type jeep that ran out of gas when the suspects, aboard a slow-moving motorcycle, opened fire, hitting him on the buttock.

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MALASIQUI – The lone Pangasinense who perished Saturday in a stampede by thousands of people queuing for a chance to get inside Philsports Arena (formerly the ULTRA) in Pasig and join the popular television game show Wowowee arrived Tuesday night in a coffin.

Jovita Apalla, 50, mother of four, of barangay Tubor here left their home Thursday to try her luck in the television program where she hoped to be chosen as contestant and get a chance to win in its million peso promo.

It was supposed to be the first anniversary of the noon-time television program hosted by comedian Willy Revillame.

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WAS Pangasinan II Schools Superintendent Armando Aquino simply evading command responsibility when he said he did not know anything about the solicitation done by school principals to defray expenses for the recent division meet?

Aquino even said that he would impose disciplinary action against any school head found violating the rules. Teachers from the Pangasinan II division were reportedly asked to fork over P300 each as no fund was set aside for the annual sports meet.

It was gathered however that a resolution was passed by school principals in a meeting sometime in December, a copy of which might have reached Aquino’s desk.

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BINALONAN has been recipient of projects worth someP22 million contrary to claims the provincial government has given nothing to that fifth district town, provincial government records showed.

Mayor Ramon Guico earlier accused the provincial government of being biased in the implementation of projects funded by collections of real property taxes (RPT). The town mayor has decided to stop remitting the province’s share of the RPT collections ito protest the province’s alleged favoritism.

Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis denied the mayor’s allegation saying the province has not been remiss in its duty to provide infrastructure like roads, bridges and school buildings in areas badly in need no matter which town is involved

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ALAMINOS CITY – The city government here will conduct another Agri-Trade Fair which is a yearly activity for farmers, fisherfolk and livestock raisers in every district of Pangasinan. The fair will be held on March 11-20, 2006 with the grand opening set on March 12 at the legislative compound of the city.

City agriculturist Ernesto de Leon said the preparation of the venue is on going. All farmers are encouraged to participate in the event and take the opportunities to showcase their efficient use of organic or inorganic fertilizers.

Participants will have their own booths for display of their products. To make the occasion more exciting, there will be an exhibition of their products, a competition for the best booth and ‘pinaka’ vegetables/fisheries and livestock. The products can also be offered for sale.

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SPORTS will take a long ride in Pangasinan after the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) national games here.

Dr. Gonzalo T. Duque, national president of the PRISAA and also of the Dagupan-based Lyceum-Northwestern University (LNU), vowed to organize a sports foundation that will manage all the sports facilities already in place.

Mainly in support of the national PRISAA games, the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NSRCC) in Lingayen, the Olympic-size Swimming Pool in Dagupan as well as the Dagupan City Astrodome were repaired by local governments and put in ciompetitive shape.

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By Venus May H. Sarmiento

LINGAYEN – The Pangasinan Provincial Office of the Philippine National Police awarded outstanding police units and officers during the local celebration of the PNP 15th Anniversary.

Theme of the celebration was ‘Transforming the PNP for a Strong Republic’.

Speaking at the new PNP Grandstand, Provincial Director Allan LM Purisima, , encouraged the police force of 44 municipalities, four cities and two provincial mobile groups to dedicate themselves to their duties in fighting lawless elements, saying that present crime statistics challenge each and every uniformed man to do his best.

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