Lingayen- – -Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and six Pangasinense literary writers take centerstage after the Writer’s International Network (WIN) Canada, headed by Hindi and Vancouver-based Ashok Bhargava, recognized their valuable contributions to the preservation of Pangasinan local arts and culture.

The six awardees who received the WIN Distinction Awards on November 23 at the ceremonial hall of Urduja House include Santiago Villafania, Caroline “Ceri Naz” Nazareno, Leonarda “Amor Cico” Carrera, Sergio Bumadilla, Prescillano Bermudez, Atty. Ferdinand L. Quintos (posthumous award). Gov. Espino and Virginia Jasmin Pasalo were given Special Citations for their outstanding contribution to local arts and culture.

In a message, Bhargava lauded Gov. Espino for his invaluable support to local arts and culture through launching of several programs and projects such as Kurit Panlunggaring, a pet project of the provincial chief executive launched in 2012 that aims to provide opportunities for budding local literary artists to showcase their talents.

Praising the Governor, Bhargava disclosed that for any activity, it is always ‘the leader that matters’ as he noted that the passion of Gov. Espino to keep Pangasinan’s arts and culture alive has made all the difference. It is important for a leader to pour his/her heart out for a certain endeavor, he noted.

In addition, Bhargava commended the province by stating: “The warmth felt in Pangasinan is never experienced anywhere,” as he further added that WIN Canada chose Pangasinan as the venue of the group’s first awarding rites for local literary writers for the mere fact that literature thrives in every local writer’s heart.

Bhargava also said that he chose Pangasinan because the literary writers are as good as the others even disclosing that “Pangasinan is truly number one.”

For his part, Gov. Espino thanked Bhargava together with his wife Aida (who hails from Sta. Maria town) for recognizing Pangasinenses whose heart and soul exude with the love and passion for arts and culture.

“It is important to trace one’s roots,” Gov. Espino said as he stressed that “the new leaf of history, culture and arts of Pangasinan” is now seen through the sublime meaning of loving the province from the heart.

It can be recalled that under the present administration, several programs and projects were introduced to revive the dying Pangasinan arts and culture.

Earlier, Gov. Espino pointed out that each region in the country has a distinct cultural identity which determines the innate characteristics of an ethno-linguistic group.

He said that the province has reached its “cultural renaissance” with this generation encouraging the use of the Pangasinan language in oral discourse and the launching of Pangasinan Orthography.

Pangasinan has gained reputation as the first province in the country to have published a book in orthography.

Meanwhile, Pasalo, a known environmental and culture and arts advocate, thanked WIN Canada for giving importance to homegrown writers.

“This serves as a tribute to the province’s cause to revive local literature and an honor for local writers, as well,” she stressed on interview.

For his acceptance message, Villafania commended the Espino administration for giving importance to promotion and preservation of Pangasinan’s culture and arts.

Pangasinan literature has become vibrant because of the numerous undertakings that were launched by the Governor, he noted, further disclosing the need ‘to continue what was started.’

On the other hand, Fr. Weng Escano, delivered an impromptu poem dedicated to the excellent performance of Gov. Espino whose main objective lies not only to revive Pangasinan arts and culture but more importantly, to preserve a vital symbol of identity among Pangasinenses.

The awarding ceremony was highlighted with poetry reading by Villafania and Pasalo. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

PMA CLASS 2016 HOLDS IMMERSION PROGRAM IN PANGASINAN. With the Capitol Building serving as the backdrop, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr., Board Member Danilo Uy (all at the center) and some department heads of the provincial government join the 65- member team of Gabay-Laya Batch 2016 of the Phil. Military Academy (PMA) in flashing the symbolic No. 1 sign. Cadets of Gabay-Laya Batch 2016 have chosen Pangasinan as the venue of their three-day Cadet Immersion Program: Aksyon at Gawaing Bayanihan 2015 (CIPAG Bayanihan 2015) from November 16 to 18. The cadets held series of activities in selected sites like in the towns of Lingayen, Bugallon, Labrador, Binmaley and Bolinao to conduct book donations, information drive, coastal clean-up, and mangrove planting. (Photo by Meinard Sadim)

LINGAYEN – The provincial government takes pride in congratulating two Pangasinense students who have showed excellence in their studies after topping the October 2015 board examination for Certified Public Accountants (CPA).

In a resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its last regular session on November 16, Rallye S. Paragas and Fern Adriel M. Velasco, both from Colegio de Dagupan (CDD), brought pride and honor to the province after Paragas topped exam Velasco placed 8^th in the recent CPA board exams.

Board Member Nestor D. Reyes, who authored the resolution, said the province is happy to note that its scholarship program has assisted and enabled deserving students to pursue higher education and become productive professionals.

Reyes said the provincial scholarship program has been assisting deserving students, a priority concern of the province of Pangasinan under the administration of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

The feat, he said, gives justice to Pangasinan’s claim that it is a best place to study with its quality educational institutions.  /ADV

GOV. ESPINO INSPIRES PMA CLASS OF 2016.  Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left photo) inspires PMA Class of 2016 “Gabay-Laya” during a fellowship activity held at the Sison Auditorium on November 16. The PMA graduating class visited the province from November 16-18 for their Cadet Immersion Program: Aksyon at Gawaing Bayanihan (CIPAG Bayanihan) 2015. Governor Espino (in right photo) presents the Pangasinan history book “Pinablin Dalin” and Kurit Panlunggaring Anthology Book to PMA Class President Kristian Dave Abigui. Witnessing the ceremonial turn-over were: (from left) Joey dela Cruz, PMA’s Community Development Course Director and Maj. Manuel Kalang-ad. /Photo by MSadim

Pasyar Pangasinan with Bani KALIPI. Hundreds of members of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) Bani Chapter join Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (center) and former Bani Mayor Marcelo Navarro (5^th from left, seated) in flashing Pangasinan number one sign during the ‘Pasyar Pangasinan’ study tour held at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen on November 16. Others present during the activity were: Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr. (4^th from right, seated), Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” Espino, Jr. (4^th from left, seated),  incumbent and former Bani town officials and KALIPI Bani Chapter President Marlyn Tugas. Another batch of KALIPI from said town was welcomed by provincial officials at the Sison Auditorium on November 18. / Photo by GMoran

Sison Elders support Pangasinan’s Cultural Renaissance.  Elders from the town of Sison representing Senior Citizens Associations (SCAs) express support to Pangasinan’s cultural renaissance as they flash Pangasinan number one sign with Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (4^th from left, seated) during the ‘Pasyar Pangasinan’ study tour held at the Sison Auditorium on November 17. Joining the group were: 5^th district Board Member Danilo Uy (3^rd from right, seated), Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” Espino, III (3^rd from left, seated), Severina Mendoza, Senior Citizens Coordinator of Sison town and other incumbent officials of Sison town. /Photo by MSadim

GOV. ESPINO INSPIRES PMA CLASS OF 2016.  Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left photo) inspires PMA Class of 2016 “Gabay-Laya” during a fellowship activity held at the Sison Auditorium on November 16. The PMA graduating class visited the province from November 16-18 for their Cadet Immersion Program: Aksyon at Gawaing Bayanihan (CIPAG Bayanihan) 2015. Governor Espino (in right photo) presents the Pangasinan history book “Pinablin Dalin” and Kurit Panlunggaring Anthology Book to PMA Class President Kristian Dave Abigui. Witnessing the ceremonial turn-over were: (from left) Joey dela Cruz, PMA’s Community Development Course Director and Maj. Manuel Kalang-ad. /Photo by MSadim

Lingayen – Health officials of Oriental Mindoro expressed admiration and intent to replicate Pangasinan’s local health care delivery system, best practices and innovations in health programs and services on their visit to the province.

This came up when Dr. Normando Legaspi, Provincial Health Officer II of Oriental Mindoro, led a group composed of health officers from their provincial local government unit (LGU) and others from municipal and city LGUs in Oriental Mindoro in a study tour in Pangasinan on November 18.

The group was welcomed by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. during a conference held at the Capitol Resort Hotel where Provincial Health Officer II Anna. Maria Teresa De Guzman presented to them the local health care delivery system, best practices and innovations in health programs and services of implemented by LGU – Pangasinan.

Dr. De Guzman said that the provincial administration puts priority to health care in the province as she noted that among the 10 development thrusts of Governor Espino, Quality and Affordable Health Care is second to Peace and Order.

Under the Espino administration, De Guzman noted that budget for the health sector in the province increased with 26 percent from 275 million in 2007 to 712 million in 2014, surpassing the required budget of the Department of Health for health care programs and services.

It was learned that the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) is the first and only health office of a provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) in the entire country that was awarded the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2008 Quality Management Certification. Pangasinan PHO received its ISO certification on January 23, 2014 while the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) had its ISO certification in May 12 of the same year.

Dr. Legazpi, who serves as the President of the Provincial Health Officers Association of the Philippines (PHOAP), admitted that they were amazed with Pangasinan’s health care delivery system and said: “Through our interactive discussions, we have learned many things that we could adopt in Oriental Mindoro.”

“Kami po ay walang masabi sa laki ng budget nyo sa health,” Dr. Legazpi said as he indicated that the said budget allocation for health is reflective of the provincial administration’s goal to further improve the health system in Pangasinan.

Earlier, the group from Mindoro visited the Health Office of Urdaneta City and the Urdaneta District Hospital, a community hospital owned and managed by the provincial government.

The group was also accorded a heritage tour within the Capitol Complex right after a briefing with Pangasinan health officials.

Lingayen – Hundreds of townsfolk from Bani and Sison towns had a close-up view of Pangasinan’s socio-cultural renaissance under the administration of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. during the ‘Pasyar na Pangasinan’ heritage tour program of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) held on November 16-18.

Governor Espino led provincial officials in welcoming Bani and Sison residents, mainly members of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) and other women organizations along with senior citizens associations in those towns.

“The softest part of my heart belongs to my mother,” Governor Espino told the senior citizens and the women present at the Sison Auditorium, stressing that his love for his mother is similar to his love for all senior citizens in the province.

Owing to the vital contributions of senior citizens in the community, Governor Espino likewise asked the elders to continue teaching the youth moral values in life which will guide them as they grow old.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr. told the women association and community elders that the present provincial administration has “levelled up the dignity and pride of being a Pangasinense” as he urged them “to love Pangasinan unconditionally.”

Speaking on behalf of barangay captains in the province, Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi” Espino, III, noted that “all things done by provincial leaders today is not for the present generation anymore, but for the next generations to come.”

“Iti anos, iti bannog ken iti sakripisyo tayo ket para kadagiti annak tayo,” (Our patience, efforts and sacrifices are for our children), the young Espino, a three-term chief executive of Bautista town said.

Townsfolk of Bani were accompanied by former Mayor Marcelo Navarro, a close friend and classmate of Governor Espino at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) while Sison residents were escorted by 5^th District Board Member Danilo Uy.

Also present during the series of pasyar were: Executive Assistant IV Ramon Morden, Provincial Sports Director Modesto Operania as well as some incumbent and former councillors and barangay leaders of Bani and Sison.

Part of Pasyar na Pangasinan, the Bani and Sison townsfolk had an opportunity for a ‘spiritual experience’ at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag before they were treated for a heritage tour around the Capitol Complex, visiting the Capitol building, Urduja House, Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) and the Sison Auditorium