By LIWAY C. MANANTAN YPARRAGUIRRE

THE road is getting wider. The picture is getting clearer. The short list is getting shorter as 2007 approaches.

In past interviews, NIA Administrator Arturo C. Lomibao gave indirect answers about his political plan. It was different last Friday evening. Here’s an excerpt from the short interview done by some mediamen.

“As I’ve said before I will make the decision at the right time. The right time is sooner or later. But I’m training my sights on the governorship. I am also doing some consultations with various sectors so that when the time comes that I will make the decision, then I will be very confident that I have prepared myself for that eventual activity, which is the May elections,” he said when asked that favorite question.

Have he joined any political party? “ I cannot joint a party yet as I’m still with the NIA. When the time comes that I will decide, I said when, not if, then I have to get out of the NIA and prepare myself for the campaign. Manood na lang tayo sa susunod na kabanata.”

Yes, he’s known all over the country having served as PNP chief. But how will the people from all corners of Pangasinan get to know him and his intentions? “You have to be visible…reconnect with your roots, with your friends, with your allies, potential leaders.”

Lomibao denied there had been talks for a Lomibao-Agbayani tandem.

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Dagupan City’s Tinda’y Labi or night market (located along A.B. Fernandez Avenue, from the corners of Galvan Street and Burgos Street) opened last Friday at 6 p.m. Special guests at the ribbon cutting were (retired) Gen. Lomibao and Landbank Director Albert Balingit.

They were assisted by Acting City Mayor Alvin Fernandez, City Administrator Raffy Baraan, Dr. Dennis Canto of Badminton Association of Dagupan (BAD) and Ricky Castillo of JCI Dagupan Bangus Jaycees. Also present was Dr. Jesus Canto of the Region I Medical Center (RIMC).

Tinda’y Labi was organized by BAD and Dagupan Bangus Jaycees, in cooperation with the city government and with the City Tourism Office assisting.

The first night was very successful. It was already then signal #3 of typhoon Quennie. Rain started to drop Saturday morning, thus, the Tinda’y Labi that night was cancelled.
People (curious perhaps what it is all about) trooped to the Tinda’y Labi venue on its first night. Crowd drawers are the ukay-ukay stalls and the street food carts. The Senior Citizen’s Park at the city plaza was converted into a food court. (Big turn-off though are the street children roaming around the area asking for the food the customers are eating.)

I hope and pray weather will be good in the next two week-ends.

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Saturday was a busy day.

Bombo Radyo Dagupan (DZWN and DWHY Star FM) conducted a Dugong Bombo blood-letting project at the CSI the City Mall atrium. This was in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross, Pangasinan chapter headed by Dir. Florame Magalong.

They’ve surpassed the 96 bags of blood donations they collected last year. As of 3p.m., Red Cross technician Ferdinand dela Cruz said that as of 12 noon, they’ve already collected 89 bags or 30,850 cc of blood.
Dugong Bombo is on its third year.

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Birthday greetings to mother Helen Bernardo (Nov. 2), Kuya Ding Micua (Nov.5), my friend and former boardmate at Vito Cruz, Manila Ms. Arlette Melgar, and Ms. Rachel “Baby” Arenas (Nov. 15).