photographs and memories of dagupan

Faded photographs rekindled memories of this city’s birth and early years when it was recovering from the ravages of war and those days when beautiful ladies whose faces were untouched by cosmetic surgeries, reigned as the city muses during fiestas.
The  photo and memorabilla exhibit titled  “It was 60 years ago today: A Glimpse of Dagupan” was put up at the City Hall lobby by the Dagupan City Heritage Commission as a part of the city’s 60th founding anniversary on June 20. Mayor Benjamin Lim opened the exhibit on June 20.

 Dagupan was born on June 20, 1947 ,  barely two years after World War II had ended that left it in ruins. But it was one of the first towns to be rehabilitated and its conversion into a city was a part of its rehabilitation.
 A panel at the exhibit shows a photo of  President Manuel Roxas and a copy of Republic Act 170 declaring the town of Dagupan into a city on June 20, 1947 and pronouncing its inauguration on January 1, 1948 . The Republic Act was authored by Speaker Eugenio Perez, the last speaker of the Commonwealth and the first of the Republic.

The town mayor then was Alipio Fernandez who “fought back all overtures” to have the city renamed.  Historians say that the city was supposed to include the neighbor town Calasiao but the residents of that town refused to join the new city .
The first mayor of Dagupan as a city was Angel Fernandez,  a law graduate of the University of the Philippines , who was “appointed leader of rolling up sleeves to rebuild the city” laid in ruins by the war.
In another panel is a long shot of a parade during a city fiesta, with beauties riding in flower-decked, horse-drawn calesas. Photographs in sepia show the different years’  reigning beauties as they posed in their lovely gowns and  charming smiles. 
 “They are really pretty. And to think that there are no cosmetic procedures that altered their natural beauty,” said Marivic Melecio, a Dagupeña.
Viewers try to locate landmarks that still exist these days. “This is the city plaza,” quipped one, pointing to an open area with a ferris wheel at the middle. The plaza, of course, looks very much different today, with the city museum, a large stage, and other structures inside.
The water tank is another landmark that still exists today. And so are the Archbishop’s Palace and the St. John’s Cathedral, albeit they have undergone reconstruction after they were reduced to rubble by the 1990 earthquake, through efforts of Archbishop Oscar Cruz. 
 “I remember this place,” Carmen Ulpindo, 58, said, pointing to a street beside the plaza. “We used to walk this road when we go to school ( West Central School ). We used to walk from Arellano Street (about two kms. Away)  where we resided. But sometimes we would hang at the back of passing calesas. We would be sweaty when we get to school, but we did not mind.”
Then there’s the photo of the archbishop of the time, Maraino Madriaga, who designed the city seal which first appeared on the cover of the 1948 city fiesta and fair souvenir program.
The seal included a railroad and a highway “to emphasize the city’s geographic location, being the major crossroad in the north.”
Another group of photos showed the opening of the city public library in the afternoon of May 22, 1948 . One of the speakers were the late Ermin Garcia, the publisher of the Sunday Punch who was gunned down because of his exposes.
The musical piece of the hymn ‘Dagupan” composed by Freedie Gagasa with lyrics by Rex Catubig,  is in another panel. The song is about the love for the city by the residents who may leave the place but will eventually return.
“Ah, Dagupan, agbalot nalingwanan.  Ngaran moy magnayon, angad andi angaan. No bilang sika’y taynan Ag ombayag, pawilen ka lan lamang (We will never forget you, Dagupan./Your name will go on forever/ If we ever leave you/ it will not be for long/ We will soon return,” the first stanza of the song goes.
 The photo exhibit, put up by committee chairs Carmen Prieto and Architect Alex Villaflor, “will be semi-permanent,” Michelle Lioanag, a member of the Heritage Commission, said.
               

Love thy kidneys

Don’t ignore that sore throat and skin infection. They can lead to renal (kidney) disease which is the 10th leading cause of fatality in the country.
Dagupan City Health Officer Leonard Carbonell said that in the country, 7,000 persons die from chronic renal failure yearly, but the disease is not getting as much attention as heart diseases do. In the city, it is the 8th leading cause of death, he said. More...
June is Department of Health’s national awareness month on kidney and the theme this year is “Okay ba Kidney mo?” 
As part of the project, the city health office is conducting a training workshop among health personnel about kidney, advocacy campaigns and urine screening among high risk  children, diabetics and hypertensives.
In San Fernando City , the health office is likewise conducting urine screening among 500 Grades I-III pupils, according to city health officer Godofredo Rilloraza.
Carbonell explained that many people are aware that sore throat or tonsilitis (inflamation of tonsils) can lead to rheumatic heart disease, but they do not know that it can also lead to acute kidney disease especially in children.
“You have to treat this diseases so they will cause serious diseases,” he emphasized.
Carbonell said the public health sector is concerned with prevention and early detection of renal diseases and the cheapest and simplest test for this is urinalysis.
The test, which cost only about P30 to P40, should be conducted yearly even among normal children, he said.
“The amount is very minimal as compared to the physical suffering of the victim, the mental suffering of the family and the amount needed to undergo the medical procedures,” he explained.
Kidney patients have to undergo dialysis (a medical procedure that helps the body by performing the functions of failed kidneys)  twice or thrice weekly.
Each procedure costing at least P2,800 and this must be continuously done for the patient to live. Patients who fail to undergo the procedure could go into coma in about two weeks as the body accumulates waste products that should be excreted, he said.
There are 5,600 patients in the country who are undergoing dialysis at present, he said.
The patients may also opt for kidney transplant but this is very expensive at P300,000 to P500,000 is needed. Even if the amount is available, the patient is lucky if there is a compatible kidney donor, Carbonell added.
He warned against the use of herbal medicines which can induce kidney disease. “Some herbal medicines have metabolites that destroy kidneys or may interact with the  medicines given by doctors. It is best to consult a medical doctor before taking any herbal medicines.”
The common causes of renal disease are diabetis melllitus and hypertension. The usual symptoms are edema around the eyes and the ankle, difficult and painful urination, fever, vomiting and nausea.
The kidneys are the excretory organs of the body. Its functions are filtering toxins from the body and regulating the body’s  water balance, acid base balance and blood pressure.
 
 
 
 

stock exchange goes to provinces

June 7, 2007

 Do you have money that you can use to earn more money?

Try investing in the stock market. This is the advise of Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. which, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office, held a stock market road show in Dagupan.

The PSE is conducting the market road show in different cities of the country to draw in people into investing in stock market. It is a part of the PSE’s intensified campaign to increase stock market awareness in the country to inform more people about the benefits of a long-term investment in securities.

Melchor Guerrero, vice president and head of the Capital Markets Development Division of the PSE, said it was "strange, almost incredible, that in this age of great leap, not even one percent of the 88 million Filipinos has had any experience in stock market investment."

"The problem, we think, is less economic-related than the nearly absolute lack of awareness about what the stock market is all about," he added.

Guerrero disclosed that the Philippines’ stock market is one of the oldest in the region, having been operating since 1927 and would be 80 years old in August.

"One would think that after several decades of existence, it would have emerged the biggest in Asia. Unfortunately, regional market statistics show differently, and neighboring exchanges, relatively younger than ours, have gone far ahead of us in more ways than one," he explained.

During the half-day seminar, the participants composed of businessmen, bankers, academe and local government units, were introduced to basics of stocks trading in the country.

Leo Quinitio, head of the PSE’s market education department lectured on the different kinds of stocks, the risks and rewards of investing in stocks as compared to other investments like deposits, treasury bills, and tangible investments like jewelry and real state, paintings, and precious metals.

Lectures were also conducted on on-line stock trading, investing in equity mutual funds, choosing stocks wisely and listing the companies in the PSE.

Guerrero explained that stocks investment is more risky than other investments, but it offers the highest returns. He gave PLDT as an example of success story as a one million peso worth of shares in the company on May 2004 jumped to P7.2 million worth on May 2006 or a return of 17 percent in two years.

He advised investors to choose companies that are profitable, its profit grows at 30 percent every year for the next 10 years, will be around in the next 20 years and a "Star" in the market.

The road show also informed Pangasinan-based companies about the benefits of going public as an efficient and cost-effective way to raise funds for expansion of business operations.

"This is the best time to invest in local market. The skies are blue. As blue as Pangasinan’s world-class (beaches). We have never before seen an environment this conducive to equities investing. And we want Pangasinenses to gain and benefit from the soaring Philippine stock market," Guerrero said.

He mentioned some advantages of going public (only at the PSE) such as having prestige and goodwill, having better trade credit, increased marketability and attention of investors and faster evaluation for tax purposes.

But there are disadvantages, too, like additional costs to the company, additional controls of management, and market indifference.

Children to lead us

Are children better leaders? Can they make a change at the Dagupan City Hall?
With all the oldies taking care of the government affairs, the city hall’s decision to hand over the affairs of the city to children is quite a novelty. Of course, the young officials cannot really do anything official. Their week-long stint at the city hall will merely be a leadership training for them.
We only hope that they the oldies’ bad habits won’t rub on them. Follow only the good habits, children, and you won’t go wrong.
Below is my story which I also submitted to the Pangasinan Star.
 
 High school students comprising the Ogagaw ya Malingkor 2007 (Children Who Serve), took over the city hall today as elective officials and heads of the different departments.
The 34 high school students led by “Mayor” Frances Riel Elinzano, 14, a third year high school student of the Mother Goodse Special School Systems, Inc., took their oath before Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez today (Tuesday) during the 109th Independence Day celebration at the city plaza. More...
They will hold office starting in the afternoon until June 20 when the city celebrates its 60th founding anniversary.
Elinzano, regal in a terno in her “inaugural address,” outlined the program of government that her “administration” will implement. First is the purchase of a housing unit at the Bahay Kalinga project in Bonuan village for an “indigent family living in the street or under the bridge.”
She also said her co-officials will launch the Operation Old Books, or will ask the private schools to donate at least 100 old books to the public schools. Another is sports development and anti-illegal drug program among the students.
“I’m excited, but a little bit nervous. But since I am happy about what I will be doing, I think it will be easy to do it,” she told the Inquirer. “I’m sure I will learn many valuable lessons.”
The young officials are students from both the private and public schools in the city who elected from among themselves, through secret balloting, who will be mayor, vice mayor and members of the Sanguniang Panglunsod.

The children-leaders will hold office either in the morning or in the afternoon only as they will also be attending their classes.
Before their elections, they underwent a crash course on the city operations from Mayor Benjamin Lim, who advised them that in implementing laws, “we should be strict, but let us not forget to put some human touch on it. It is a way of obtaining the respect and loyalty of the constituents.”
Metro Dagupan culture and arts council president Honorata Siapno said the Ogogaw a Malingkor aims to hone the Dagupeño youth to be good leaders in the future.
“This program also enables Filipino youth to gain inspirations from their experiences in developing their skills and capabilties which they can later share with their peers,” she said.
The child city vice mayor is Noel Lamsen of the Dagupan City National High School while the city councilors are Michelle Angelica Soriano, Care de Guzman, Louise Mae Bangsal, Rochmond Batulan, Charleen Myre Mejia, Katrina Joyce Alarte, Bounteous Servito, Jeriel Ruth Lim, Rustan Maynard Tandoc, Keshma Shennedy Gascon, Donn Aficial and Danmar Kevin Brao.