SIMBANG GABI AT THE CAPITOL. Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) assisted by Pangasinan First Lady Priscilla “Mely” I. Espino (right) lights the candle that signifies the 3^rd week of Advent during the first day of the 9-day Simbang Gabi held at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) last December 15. The anticipated nine-day mass at the Capitol, which was launched under the Espino administration, is traditionally held every 5 p.m. at the Capitol grounds from the 15th day of December up to 23^rd. Due to inclement weather, the mass was held at the PTDC with Archbishop Socrates Villegas (not in photo) who administered the mass assisted by Rev. Fr. Francis Posadas (partly hidden). Meanwhile, the midnight mass for Christmas in celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, will be held on December 24, 8 p.m. at the Capitol grounds while the anticipated mass for New Year that gives honor to the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is scheduled on December 31, 8PM also at the same venue. (Photo by MVSadim)

Lingayen – Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. honored barangay health workers (BHWs) and day care workers (DCWs) in Pangasinan as “health care heroes” as he recognized their important roles for the promotion and implementation of health care programs and services by the provincial government in barangays.

During a series of amelioration assistance distribution to about 13,510 BHWs and  1,451 DCWs from 44 towns and three component cities of the province held from December 8 to 18 in different venues from first to sixth districts, Governor Espino along with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and provincial board members expressed gratitude to the sacrifices and hard work of BHWs and DCWs who serve their respective communities with commitment and dedication.

“Kayat ko nga maikarit tayo amin nga ar-aramiden tayo para kadagiti an-nak tayo,” (Gusto ko na maipagmalaki natin and lahat ng ginagawa natin para sa ating mga anak), Governor Espino stressed to the BHWs and DCWs as he pointed out that all things done by the present administration of local leaders are for the benefit of future generations.

Calling the workers as “frontline service providers,” Gov. Espino said the amelioration pay, which used to be in the amount of Php500 and was doubled this year, is still not enough to compensate their services in their communities.

             “The amelioration might be a small amount, but this comes as a simple gift to show that the province is always here for you,” the provincial chief executive stressed.

Furthermore, Gov. Espino appealed to barangay service providers to “shun politics and to stay focused on helping the people in the community” as he poured sentiments that while the provincial government is doing its best to serve the people of Pangasinan, a group of detractors continues destroy the momentum by mixing politics.

Vice Governor Calimlim, who serenaded the barangay workers with his “Ikaw na Nga” rendition said that the activity was more of a renewal of vows and a testament to the good relationship between the community service providers and the provincial government, saying: “Kayo ang pamamaraan para mailapit ang Kapitolyo sa mga barangay.”

             Meanwhile, Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” Espino, III vowed to continue working towards the progress and development of Pangasinan which was started by his father, particularly the programs that help ease the plight of the poor in barangays.

            “Haan kayo kuma nga maum-uma nga tumulong kadagiti Pangasinense nga makasapol iti tulong yo,” (Huwag sana kayo magsawa na tumulong sa mga Pangasinense na nangangailangan ng tulong ninyo), BM Espino, a three-term Mayor of Bautista town, added.

BM Espino also took pride of various developments that the present provincial administration has carried out for the past year years, stressing that the amelioration pay is an acknowledgement of all the sacrifices BHWs and DCWs have been providing to people in communities

LINGAYEN—“The provincial government of Pangasinan will remain as your partner in keeping the people informed,” thus said Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. as he delivered his speech before members of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Pangasinan chapter after he administered the induction of the newly-elected officers for 2016 held last December 13 in Dagupan City.

Governor Espino, who acknowledged that the broadcasters also remains  as one of the biggest “influencers” in shaping the minds of the people and the actions they take, enjoined media men to work hand-in-hand with the provincial government to usher in unprecedented development in the province.

“Lagi kong sinasabi na ang lahat ng ating ginagawa ay para sa ating mga anak, sa kanilang mga magiging anak at sa ating mga apo,” Gov. Espino added as he stressed his intent to be the kind of local chief executive who plans to stay in Pangasinan after he retires.

In his speech, Gov. Espino expressed his full support to whatever community service the association plans to implement as he proposed that KBP should conduct environment-oriented projects. “I will give you seed money to undertake these projects,” the provincial chief executive said.

Governor Espino assured the members of the KBP that he will remain as a friend wherever life path he may take after his term as governor of Pangasinan ends next year.

After his speech, the Governor led the induction and oath-taking of the newly-elected KBP officials: Emmanuel Sibayan (DWID- Love Radio) as chairman; Jay Mendoza (DZRD Sonshine Radio), vice chairman; Josie Sarmiento (DZWN Bombo Radyo), secretary; Gemma Cacas (ABS-CBN North and Central Luzon and MOR), treasurer; Bernie Errasquin (DZMQ Radyo ng Bayan), auditor; and Mark Gemson Espinosa (IFM), standards performance officer.

The KBP officers presented plaques of appreciation to Gov. Espino for his invaluable support to KBP’s endeavors as well as to all its media partners and activity partners. ADV/AJV

Pozorrubio- – -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. led the distribution of P1,000 amelioration pay for each of the 852 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and 120 Day Care Workers (DCWs) from the towns of Pozorrubio, Sison, Laoac, and Binalonan held on December 14 at the Pozorrubio Community Hospital.

The Governor, who was joined by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay President Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III and Board Member Danny Uy, hailed the BHWs and the DCWs for their sacrifices and hardships which he said, are worthy of emulation,

Calling the workers as “frontline service providers,” Gov. Espino said the amelioration pay, which used to be in the amount of P500 and was doubled this year, is still not enough to compensate the services rendered by the BHWs and DCWs in their community.

He further noted that the financial grant is just a small way of showing how grateful the provincial government is, considering how much sacrifice each worker renders in the name of community service.

Furthermore, Gov. Espino appealed to all BHWs and DCWs to shy away from politics and to stay focused on helping the people in their community.

Having said this, the Governor poured his sentiments that while the provincial government is doing its best to serve the people of Pangasinan, a certain group continues to destroy the momentum by mixing politics.

“Votes are sacred,” the governor said as he stressed that it should only be given to rightful candidates whose objective is to serve the greater majority specifically the less privileged sector.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Calimlim thanked the BHWs and DCWs for working hand-in-hand with the provincial government.

It is the goal of the present administration, he said, to provide the needed services to all far-flung areas of the province as he further cited that the objective is being realized through the help of the BHWs and DCWs.

Board Member Pogi, on the other hand, said that the provincial government will continuously provide the best services to the people with the help of all frontline community workers.

The provincial government scheduled the distribution of amelioration pay of the workers all over Pangasinan from December 8 to 16.

As of December 14, some 4,191 barangay workers have already received their amelioration pay.

Pangasinan has more than 13,000 BHWs and DCWs. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen- – -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. welcomed some 1,200 OFW families from all over Region 1 in a fun-filled day of games and amusement during the 2015 OFW Family Day at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) held last December 13.

The Governor, who expressed heartfelt gratitude, commended the OFW families for the support being extended to the provincial government especially in cascading its various programs and projects to the grassroots.

“Salamat sa paglilingkod bilang tagabantay ng inyong mga barangay lalo na sa usaping droga,” Gov. Espino cited as he underscored that the support accorded to the provincial government by the OFW families means a lot to the present administration.

It can be recalled that the provincial government launched a program “Bantay-Barangay, Tulong-Hanapbuhay” to enable the OFW families all throughout the province as among the force multipliers to combat drug abuse in the grassroots.

In addition, the Governor stressed that the provincial government is doing its best to provide programs and projects that will redound to the benefit of all OFWs and their families to include the OFW Center which was established under his administration to serve the migrant workers in the province and the provision of start-up capital for every OFW family association, among many others.

Citing of the present status of the Pangasinan Provincial Employment and Services Office headed by Alex F. Ferrer, which has reached its Hall of Fame status as the country’s Best PESO, Gov. Espino said everything that the provincial government has established over the past 8 years is dedicated to the unsung heroes of the province—the OFWs.

Meanwhile, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region I Officer-in-Charge Sergio Borgueta, Jr. said that the occasion is envisioned to pay tribute to all OFWs and their families in the region who have sacrificed a lot.

Borgueta likewise said that the OWWA intends to transform the annual event as a provincial activity to attract more participants.

Highlights of the event include raffle draws and games such as Christmas tree making contest and talent competitions among representatives from Western Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Ilocos Norte and Eastern Pangasinan. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

TEAM PANGASINAN: HAULING 10 GOLD MEDALS IN 2O15 BATANG PINOY NAT’L FINALS. Team Pangasinan, the official delegation of the province of Pangasinan to Batang Pinoy (BP) formed by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. in 2011, romped off with the over-all 11^th place out of 261 participating local government unit (LGU) delegations in the recently-concluded BP National Finals held in Cebu City from November 27 to December 2, bagging 10 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals. (In photos) Team Pangasinan joins the parade along major thoroughfares of Cebu City before the opening program of the national sporting event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.  Pangasinense athletes – 16 years old and below – vied for supremacy in 13 sporting events, namely: arnis, athletics, cycling, boxing, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, sepak takraw (girls), swimming, taekwondo, volleyball (boys), basketball (3/3) girls and wrestling. /Photo by GDMoran

Lingayen – Basketball coaches from various towns in Pangasinan and nearby provinces of La Union and Tarlac participated in the Samahang Basketbolista ng Pilipinas (SBP) Referees’ Accreditation and Licensing at the Pangasinan National High School (PNHS) on December 11-13.

Sponsored by the provincial government, said activity, held in partnership with the SBP, provided the basketball coaches with additional knowledge on national and international standards in basketball through coach education and training.

Most participants came from towns of Sison, Bolinao, Bani, San Fabian, Rosales, Manaoag, Malasiqui, Mangatarem, Dasol, Anda, Lingayen, Mangaldan, Alcala and from cities of Alaminos and San Carlos with some participants from San Fernando City, La Union and Tarlac.

Provincial Sports Director Modesto Operania, who represented Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. during the activity’s opening program on December 11, stressed that the activity forms part of the present provincial administration’s sports development thrust which encompasses the comprehensive development plan for the youth.

Operania said that by providing constant support to the young Pangasinan athletes in various sporting events in the regional, national and international levels, LGU – Pangasinan has provided more opportunities to the Pangasinan youth to hone their skill in various sports disciplines.

The sports director likewise disclosed that LGU – Pangasinan will host the Philippine National Games (PNG) of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center next year.

Also present to express support during the activity were: SBP Regional Director Edilberto Abalos, SBP Technical Official Liberato Valenzuela, 1^st Pangasinense International Basketball Referee Renante Jofana, PNHS Principal Florante Tamondong, DepEd – Education Program Supervisors for Sports Bernardo De Guzman (Pangasinan I) and Enrique Macayan (Pangasinan II).

DISTRIBUTION OF AMELIORATION TO BARANGAY WORKERS. Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (right photo) and Board Member Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III (left photo) extol the Barangay Health and Day Care Workers for their dedicated service to the public during the first wave of distribution of amelioration pay to the BHWs and DCWs in the municipalities of Urbiztondo and Aguilar   last December 8.The workers who used to receive P500 amelioration pay expressed joy over their early Christmas gift of P1, 000 after Gov. Espino doubled the amount of their gift this year. The distribution of amelioration pay to over 13,000 workers all over the province has been set until December 16.  /JMoran

CASH ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF ‘LANDO’ FATALITIES. Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III (standing) urges the families of the 14 fatalities of Typhoon Lando’s onslaught last October to stand firm despite their loss. Each family received financial assistance worth P10,000 as a manifestation of support from the provincial government. Coinciding with the distribution was the awarding of cash assistance amounting to P60,000to some 12 Children WithDisabilities (CWDs) who are enrolled at the Special Education (SPED) Center in Bautista town.The distribution ceremony was held last December 7 at the Crisis Intervention Center of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). Joining BM Espino during the event were Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. and PSWDO chief Emilio Samson (both seated). (PIO photo)