By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

IT was a long drive home Saturday evening from SBMA (Subic) where we attended the 33rd annual district convention of Kiwanis Int’l.-Philippine Luzon District.

It was more of a joyride for Allan (Mr. Y) and I in our old hot and old Mitsubishi box type car. Left Olongapo City last Saturday at about 4:40p.m. and arrived home in Dagupan City at about 10:30 p.m. It was ‘leisure driving’ at the speed (the most) of 80kph; he cannot drive faster than that as the car will wiggle.

It was trip down memory lane too. Read more

By Liway C. Manantan- Yparraguirre

OF the four cities in Pangasinan, it is only Alaminos City that does not have a big college or university. The first district is very wide yet there are no universities that could really address the educational needs of the people especially the poor.

There is a PSU campus in Infanta but it basically offers agriculture courses, I think.

This corner learned that one of the medium term development plans of the city government is to put up a city college just like Urdaneta City. Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

WITH a vote of 243-202, Urbiztondo number 1 Councilor Raul Sison won against Pozorrubio Councilor Dennis Uy, earning the right to represent his colleagues at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as sectoral representative.

Coming from the second district of Pangasinan, he practically broke the hold of the fifth district on the Philippine Countilors League (PCL) – Pangasinan chapter.
Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

TRAVELED to La Union a couple of times last week.

There was the Regional Mobile Group 1 (RMG1) turn-over of command at the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) headquarters in San Fernando City last Tuesday.

Supt. Edgar Basbas, former Dagupan City police chief, succeeded Supt. Dionico Borromeo (they swapped posts) as RMG1 group director with Gen. Leopoldo Bataoil, PRO1 director, administering the ceremony.

Last Thursday, through the invitation of Engr. Joseph Dumuk, La Union Provincial Information Officer, I covered the La Union Peace and Order Council Meeting presided by Gov. Manuel Ortega. Also present were Gen. Bataoil, La Union Provincial Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

MIND and body competitions.

After the PD (P/SSupt. Isagani Nerez) Marathon, there’s the PNP On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest held at the police provincial headquarters in Lingayen.

It was a face-off between Pangasinan I and Pangasinan II Schools Division (I wonder why they did not include the four City Schools Divisions). Dr. Marisol Mamaradlo of Pangasinan I said that the last time the two schools division competed against each other in poster making contest was five years ago. Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

“BE like the ants, save for the rainy days,” “Mag-impok sa banko.”

Still familiar with these phrases?

Monday this week (July 16), the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1) together with the Kiwanis Club of Dagupeña, Metro Dagupan launches PRO-1’s advocacy on the culture of saving. Piggy banks were distributed to some school children to drumbeat the campaign.

We could only give so much number of piggy banks, but the main objective is to inculcate in the young minds of the children (adults included) the importance of saving. If we’ve forgotten this practice, then it’s time to start again. Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

THERE are many young children who are talented in athletics but are ‘unequipped.’ For starters, they don’t have the right running shoes or rubber shoes (very expensive), vitamins and right food or diet to help them endure the rigors of training… and later to compete.

What keeps them in the sport perhaps is simply their love to run and to compete.

This again I saw during the PD’s (PSSupt. Isagani Nerez) Marathon 2007 last Saturday morning. (This was actively supported by the Pangasinan PNP Press Corps Inc. led by President Violy Valdez-Ferrer). Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

IT’S REALLY never too late for one to start learning how to read and write. May this story inspire us to reach out and encourage those who are lacking in formal education to take the big bold step to learning and free themselves from the bondage of being able to see and talk but not able to read and understand what is written.

This is a story of a woman who dreamt of becoming a stewardess and travel the world.

She has made the first step, a big leap as she hopes to fulfill her childhood dream, to travel abroad (she has the height as she’s stands 5’5” but she can no longer be a stewardess). Read more

BY LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

THE Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) headed by Police Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, provincial director, is embarking on a very noble program: Education for indigent children.
Actually, they will implement this June four programs on education:

These are the Batang Mahirap, Edukasyon mo Sagot ko; the Distance Learning Program; Pulis Ko, Teacher Ko; and the Education for Out-of-School Youths.

Nerez said another plan is the putting up of a Day Care Center.
Read more

By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

UNDERSECRETARY for Local Governance Antonio “Bebot” Villar Jr. has been appointed the new anti-smuggling czar of the country.

Villar’s appointment as Presidential Assistant for Anti-Smuggling (under the Office of the President) was signed by President Gloria Arroyo on May 21, 2007.

On the same date, Arroyo signed Executive Order (EO) Number 624 “Creating the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) to apprehend, seize, investigate and prosecute acts involving smuggling, importation and other similar violations, and providing measures to curtail smuggling and expedite seizure proceedings.”
Read more