“It’s a downer” was how opposition senator Chiz Escudero described the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippine’s (CBCP) position on the on-going political crisis brought about by the ZTE scandal.

Escudero expressed this disappointment after the CBCP issued a statement but for the resignation of the embattled President Arroyo.

The senator said he finds it ironic that the CBCP issued a bland statement about the on-going scandals in the government when during the EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 revolts which had massive election cheating and corruption issues at hand respectively, it strongly condemned the government then.

“It is with deep regret that after a hastily called closed door meeting, this is only what the CBCP had to say. The issues hounding the administration today are the same issues of the past two governments which the Church had helped fought against. With massive poll cheating and high-level corruption in the Arroyo administration being hung out dry in the open, I don’t know anymore how far it would take for the CBCP to take a stronger and clearer stand against all these” Escudero said. Read more

Juan P. Dayang, president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), has urged the decriminalization of libel to avoid its being used to muzzle the press in performing its solemn duty of providing adequate and truthful information that affects the well-being of our people.

“Persons or organizations guilty of libel should suffer a reasonable fine, depending on the gravity of the offense, but they should not suffer imprisonment.” Dayang explained to the joint Senate committees on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws chaired by Senaator Richard Gordon and the Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Bong Revilla.

In a position paper, Dayang informed the Senate committees that the threat of a libel suit is often used to prevent the media from reporting or discussing issues that are of paramount interest to the public.

Dayang’s sentiment was earlier acknowledged in a recent message made before the International Conference on Impunity and Press Freedom by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Reynato S. Puno who said that international  organizations had identified two threats to freedom of expression and the free flow of information and ideas: censorship by killing and the abuse of restrictive defamation and libel laws. Read more

DAGUPAN CITY – A proposed Chinatown in Dagupan City could be an added attraction if not an additional tourism destination in Dagupan City.

This was stressed by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, commenting on the desire of the Dagupan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce led by Edison Co to build a China town in the entire stretch of Rizal Street.

Fernandez, a member of the continuously increasing Filipino-Chinese community in Dagupan, said the chamber is asking Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr. to endorse their plan to build Dagupan’s Chinatown.

“I’m sure Mayor Fernandez will approve the chamber’s request since it is of no expense to the city government. Besides, the establishment of the Chinatown jibes with the urban renewal program of the city,” the vice mayor said.

The proposed local Chinatown will be similar to Ongpin Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, where most of the establishments are owned by traders of Chinese descents. Read more

LINGAYEN – It’s an unexpected victory for Hannah Sue Eming as she romped off with the Miss Solid North 2008 crown last night, February 20, at the Pangasinan State University (PSU) Convention Center in Lingayen vesting thirteen other candidates from various state universities and colleges in Regions I, II and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

All of eighteen summers, Hannah is like a whiff of fresh wind as she smartly and confidently answered the final question tossed to the Magic 7 finalists capturing the nod of the jurors and spectators, as well.

A 3^rd year BS Education student of Apayao State University, this budding beauty did not swept any of the minor awards during the pageant night but ended up with the most coveted title, a proof that intelligence weigh more than physical attributes.

Meanwhile, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., represented by Board Member Nikki Boy Reyes, earlier welcomed this year’s Association of State Colleges and Universities (ASCU) delegations as they conduct their annual Sports Olympics and Cultural Festival at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center in Pangasinan.

The holding of such event he stressed, upholds unity, resilience, productivity and commitment through the showcase of academic, cultural and athletic potentials of the youth. Sports competition, literary-musical contest and the beauty pageant were among the highlights of the three day event.

First and second runner-ups for the Miss Solid North 2008 are Wendy Lucas of Cagayan State University and Rochelle T. Cayton of Nueva Vizcaya State University. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)

Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (center) enumerates the mega projects for Pangasinan as Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left), Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) President Ramon A. Guico, Jr. (second from right), Education Secretary Jesli Lapus (second from left) and Sixth District Congressman Mark Cojuangco (right) listen during the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Binalonan South Central Elementary School where two-storey four (4) classroom schoolbuildings will be built. (PIO photo for PDN)

RHODORA M. PALINAR

Time and Tide, People’s Digest Newsweekly February 19-25, 2008

STREET protesters may rally down the streets of Makati and Metro Manila; Jun Lozada may be grilled at the Senate on a daily basis before the whole country on national television; former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos may be singing his tune “off key” as he pathetically struggles to get off the hook from the national broadband network scandal – and yet, here in the province of Pangasinan and in most other provinces – life goes on.

I can tell, I can feel. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is going to finish her term in 2010. The current issue that implicates her husband is not enough to sustain a nationwide uprising. Not that she is involved in corruption of lesser degree from that of former President Joseph Estrada. In fact, in Arroyo’s case, the bribe money involved is more staggering than that of Erap’s. And what hurts more is that – with Arroyo, the money involved directly comes from the people’s money – their bloodied taxes.

But why the seeming “indifference” of still a majority of Filipinos on this controversy? And if and when the allegations of Jun Lozada are proved and should consequently merit impeachment proceedings against the president, will the Filipino once more show collective force to bring her down from power? I so doubt it. Read more