YOU can’t blame Malacanang if it now tries to steer clear of the People’s Initiative or even the Con-Ass (Constituent Assembly) route to Charter Change. President Arroyo is exhibiting a more practical sense today, perhaps more than in other recent Palace political actions, by refusing to be inveigled to do the biddings of some in her inner circle.

At this point, when all indications are that any new political question would be brought up to, and resolved by, an “activist” Supreme Court, Arroyo and the Palace cannot afford to have another defeat, even the mere chance of defeat, in that bulwark of our democracy.

Many political detractors of the Palace, in fact, would be ready to be less antagonistic were the Administration to leave things to the decision of the people, not to the whims of politicians, in charting the course of the nation, indeed, of the Constitution such as what a Constitutional Convention could substantially offer. In adversity, lessons are learned a-plenty and all for the better.

The fact is, many people, not just some lately-reawakened Palace officials, believe that with the economy now so rosy and brilliant despite all the political crisis, past and present, and despite our being in this system, it is hardly the time to change horses, that is, revising the system. Said another way to no one in particular, it’s not the system, stupid!

Those who do not learn from mistakes of the past are condemned to repeat it in the future. And those who misread the signs of the times – are losers twice over.

By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

LINGAYEN - Four members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) now face kidnap for ransom charges for allegedly abducting and extorting money from two suspected illegal drug pushers from barangay Alac, San Quintin town last Thursday.
The case is non-bailable.
Senior Supt. Alan L. Purisima, Pangasinan police provincial director, identified the four who were arrested in a dragnet operation as Chief Inspector Porferio Calagan, Senior Police Officers IV Marquez Madlon and Arthur Lucas, and PO2 Edwin Garcia.
Calagan is said to be the top graduate of PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy) Class of 1996.

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By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.

POLITICS has always been a dirty game, no matter the laundry job being given it by some leaders, particularly those whose fortunes make them wallow in it, in order to make their “old game’ at least palatable.

If there’s one local disciple of politics now confirming this for himself in the most bitter way, it must be Vice Gov. oscar B. Lambino. A supposed press release from some unknown source has practically left him in the lurch (translated: bitin) late last week. A logical heir to the governorship after having loyally allied himself with the Agbayanis (thru incumbent Gov. Victor) all these years, Lambino who has been widely “rumored to team up with Sto. Tomas Mayor Vivien O. Villar in next year’s Capitol run, foun himself being suddenly denied that partnership — publicly.

The lady mayor of Sto. Tomas (our own kumadre) won’t be Lambino’s running-mate at all, the news report said, directly quoting Mayor Vivien’s husband no less. Undersecretary Antonio ‘Bebot’ Villar. It went on to quote the undersecretary as saying Vivien never ever set her eyes on the vice gubernatorial post and was content being a town mayor.
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By DANNY O, SAGUN

THE Tinday Labi is due for launching next week purportedly to revive the once-vibrant night market in Dagupan City and to draw visitors and tourists ala Hong Kong.
A. B. Fernandez Avenue, from corner Rizal street up to the city plaza, will be the main trading area for all kinds of goods – personal and home ware, food and drinks, etc. Entertainment – live music – will add to the glitter of the night, from sundown to about 2 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays, according to overall chair Dennis Canto of the badminton group in Dagupan City.
The night market had for long been a good source of revenue for the city. We recall during the time of Mayor Libring Reyna and later, during Al Fernandez’s time, the side portions of Read more

By YOLANDA Z. SOTELO

I KNOW, Halloween’s over and creepy tales are out of season. But this is not a ghost story. It’s about well, creepy creatures – those that belong to “low forms of life” but who have a role to play in the web of life.

Yup – I’m talking (writing) about those crawling and flying insects which could give one a real scare. They do make your hair rise, don’t they? Much more than those scary, corny ghost stories can ever do.

Example: The earthworm. Sure we learned in the elementary grades that they are a gardener’s best friend. But when you find them in the soil, you’d wish they’d hide from your view forever. Yicks!
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By LIWAY C. MANANTAN YPARRAGUIRRE

Utang na loob or debt of gratitude. One of the good virtues of both Filipinos and Koreans.

One thing I’ve learned from the people whom I look up to and consider my role models is - giving back the good things done or extended to you need not be to the giver himself. Do good deeds to other people. The magnitude is immaterial. What matters is that you’re doing it wholeheartedly, and without any expectation.

We met Mr. Dukshin Park during the VictoRey Gen. ReynaldoVelasco Cycling Classic last October 29 Sta. Barbara. He’s in the country to pay his father’s debt of gratitude to a Filipino farmer who shielded the late Park Sung Suk during World War II.
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THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Cordillera agents have been used to conducting operations outside their jurisdiction and with no proper coordination with their counterparts.

Four such agents caught in eastern Pangasinan last week appeared to be again on another uncoordinated ‘mission’ with local police counterparts although they claimed to have informed their regional office in Cordillera about a drug operation.

Their chief would however say they really did inform him but he was unaware his men would stage a ‘hulidap’ (slang for holdup).

It will be recalled that one of their assets here in Dagupan City, a certain “Karing,” was killed in an operation gone awry some months back in Bonuan Binloc. The team only informed the city police when the situation got out of hand., it was learned. Read more

THE city health office is looking for a suitable site for a new public cemetery, according to city health officer Leonard Carbonel.
The present cemetery in barangay Poblacion Oeste is already congested and flood prone. Many who came to visit their dead last Wednesday in observance of the “All Saints’ Day” were dismayed to see that the cemetery was already under water because of heavy downpour in the afternoon. Read more