RETIRED Army Lt. Gen. Alberto ‘Boysie’ Braganza has denied any grand design to ‘militarize’ civilian elective positions in western Pangasinan with the reported plans, starting with him, of retired Army and police officers to run for public office.

Braganza denied that he is fielding retired police and Army officers to run as mayor in his district for them to help him in his congressional bid.
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ALAMINOS CITY – Disgusted over what he called the present confusing state of politics in the Philippines, brought about by compromises and other factors, one of the closesT political ally of the administration in Pangasinan has expressed his desire to retire from public life.

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, former member of the cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before he became mayor in his place of root, surprised his citymates when he bared his plan not to run anymore although he has one more term left.

Only in his second term of office and still young at 40, Braganza laughed off reports that he will run for governor in the May 2007 polls. The truth is, he said he is actually planning to call it quits and return to private life.

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CONFUSION hounds the administration party Lakas-CMD, at least in the formal oath-taking of new converts to the party, it was gathered Thursday.

New members of the party did not exactly know before whom they would take their oath – before Gov. Victor E. Agbayani or Vice-Gov. Oscar B. Lambino, who are both chairmen of the provincial chapter of the party.
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By DANNY O. SAGUN
pia Dagupan Infocenter
THE Department of Education continues to hold sports activities despite the fact that “culture and sports” as part of the name of the department was dropped some years back, it was clarified Tuesday.

Dr. Alberto Macob, OIC-assistant superintendent of Pangasinan Division Isaid that the department holds various sports meets, starting first in the schools, then by district, by division, by region, and lastly in the Palarong Pambansa.

All sports activities in the country are supposed to be administered by a separate body like the Philippine Sports Commission so that the education department can concentrate on academic activities. Read the rest of this entry »

TAYUG—After over a year in limbo, the criminal cases filed against the accused in the killing of Pasay City Judge Estrellita Paas in September 2005 have been re-filed with the Regional Trial Court.

The cases for murder and theft are now in the hands of RTC Judge Emma Parajas of Branch 52 in Tayug in whose sala the complaints have been assigned. The cases were dismissed by RTC Judge Ulysses Raciles Butuyan of Branch 51, also in Tayug, a year ago.
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ALAMINOS CITY – Some 7,000 children from various parts of the country, who were born with hare and cleft lip palate, can now smile again and unashamedly face other children.

Thanks to a group of dedicated Filipino and American surgeons and their staff who made this possible in their yearly medical missions in the Philippines for 17 years now.

Mayor Hernani Braganza said that for 17 long years that the mission has been in the Philippines, the Philippine-American Group of Educators and Surgeons (PAGES) has made 7,000 children happy as they can now flash toothy smiles and act as normal kids.
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STA. MARIA, Ilocos Sur – Four towns in the Ilocos region are being eyed by the government as pilot areas for the planting of sweet sorghum and cassava which are raw materials for the production of ethanol, an alternative source of inexpensive fuel for the country.

Presidential Assistant Enrie Mendoza disclosed here that the pilot areas are Batac in Ilocos Norte, Sta. Maria in Ilocos Sur, Sto. Tomas in La Union, and Rosales in Pangasinan, found to be all suitable areas for the planting of the two crops.

Mendoza said the planting of sweet sorghum and cassava is being initiated by the national government as the two crops are rich in ethanol, a substance needed in bio-fuel production.

The planting program is in line with the Biofuel Act signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
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LINGAYEN – The provincial government of Pangasinan through the provincial health office will spearhead the celebration of “Heart Month” this February, according to Dr. Jackson D. Soriano, OIC-provincial health officer.

Soriano said the thrust of the celebration as encouraged by Gov. Victor Agbayani is to stress the importance of proper diet, regular physical exercise, and healthy lifestyle to maintain a healthy heart.

“The leading causes of human death have shifted from infectious diseases to degenerative diseases with hearth diseases leading the list,” Soriano said.
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