The age in which we live in is so amazing. I’m specifically talking about technology. There was a time when the most common way you can find out about anything and do research is to go to your local public library. There, you could look at all of the books and read about whatever subject you were interested in. Today that library model is now a smartphone that can fit in your pockets, backpack and/or purse. If you want to know something, all you have to do is Google it  or use whatever internet browser you prefer.

 Lately, I’ve been having these small bursts of motivation to find out more about the provinces of Pangasinan. As if you already did not notice, I am a big promoter of PBUSA and its dynamic website, a website that can potentially be a really good source for understanding what the province of Pangasinan is all about. You definitely can find out about the traditions, the people who live there and the Pangasinan community, here in the US and hopefully soon in other countries. This week I want to encourage people to visit the section of the PBUSA website called “Video Profile of Towns and Cities”. Here you will discover some of the most wonderful scenery in Pangasinan as well as the interesting origins of these Pangasinan towns. I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting Pangasinan over 10 years ago, and I can assure you that it is even more beautiful now than it was then; just look at the videos. From my perspective, it looks like it could be a great place to go on vacation.

 If you are from the towns of Dagupan City, Lingayen, Alaminos City, San Fabian and San Carlos , you would be very proud of your town after viewing these videos. For all you know, after seeing the videos, you might feel homesick, nostalgic and /or or curios about going there. Enough dialogue; just see for yourself. Just go to www.pbusa1.com and you are on your way to seeing what I am talking about. I am hoping that people who are planning to visit Pangasinan would take a video of their visit and submit that to PBUSA. This way, one can get the perspective of the average Pangasinanses. Of course, you need to edit it. I think that any vacation video over 30 minutes would put me to sleep, unless of course you have mad skills/directorial genius like a Steven Spielberg or JJ Abrams. Wouldn’t that be a great feature on the PBUSA website? Who wants to be the first one?

 I know that you probably don’t have a lot of time to sit in front of a desktop computer, but that’s what smartphones and tablets are for. It’s learning on the go. The next time you are waiting, in line, jogging, at a boring party, riding the train etc, go ahead and remember to go to www.pbusa1.com. It’s worth the fifteen minutes or more of discovery, and you don’t need a library card, just a good hotspot.

 Another few words from…………….

Phil E. Peno.

Dear Kabaleyans, Fellow Pangasinenses, Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc. is saddened by the passing of four (4) kabaleyans:

1. John Langit – Past President  of the Dagupan City Club of Southern California

2. Ching Arzadon – President of Greater Dagupan City Association of California

3. Angeles Domantay – Dagupan City Club of Southern California

4. Danilo S. Magno – Dagupan city

Our deepest condolences to their beloved families.  Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace, Amen.

Sincerely,

Eddie Ferrer
President
Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Inc.

A wise man who lived very long ago named Epictetus (You can guess when he lived by his name; I assure you I have never run into a guy named Epictetus in my whole life)  once said that “Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.” I have heard this many times or some variation of it but never really paid attention to it. Now it just visually reminds me that there is more value in listening than talking. A person develops himself by taking in various information and processes them to form thoughts and ideas. You can accomplish that by learning how to listen. Don’t worry, this is not a lecture on listening. It’s just pointing out something that’s very obvious but something we often forget. Next time you are talking to someone, look at their face. Why did our creator, our dear GOD, create us this way? Can you imagine if we only had one ear, and it’s on our forehead, or on the back of our head, or our knees for that matter?

Now that I have creeped you out with those different visuals of where our ears could potentially be, let’s get to why I am pointing this out. You are reading this article because you have discovered PBUSA through Facebook, Twitter, your friend, or family member that texted you or spoke about PBUSA (Pangasinan Brotherhood USA). Or, you could have stumbled upon or intentionally visited the new and improved PBUSA website (pbusa1.com). PBUSA takes pride in its website being unique. There are interesting things to read, but it’s also filled with great videos that make the site very dynamic. Today, I want to bring attention to a feature/section of the website called “Legacy Corner”. Go to this section and take the time to listen to the interviews. This section is trying to

Connect the senior members with the younger generation through the handing down “pearls of wisdom” via three minute video interviews,

1. Involve all of the members in producing these videos for future generations to learn from, and
2. Create legacies and provide value to its members and the Pangasinan community.

Have I convinced  you to visit “Legacy Corner”? NO? If not now, maybe later. I guarantee you there is a treasure trove of eye-opening wisdom in this corner that will provide you with a lifetime reward.

Remember, “two ears and one mouth.”

Phil E. Peno

120 Great Added Photos by Honorable Belen Fernandez ( Mayor of Dagupan City) as Guest Speaker & Inducting Officer of the 25^th Anniversary celebration of Greater Dagupan City Association of Southern California, June 27, 2015. Now posted on PB-USA’s Facebook

The Namnama Experience

“There is hope!” I say. “Yes! There is hope!” echoes Eddie Ferrer. This emotional exchange by good friends came after an unexpected visit to a village seen as new-found haven of a dream, a hope and coming together of like-minded people to make it happen!

I came as an advance party of a US delegation of 25 to visit Pangasinan in January 2015 led by First Lady Rhenee Ferrer, Next Gen’s Neil Estrada and spokesperson Virginia Mandapat Coquia. It was a humbling experience to be with the community and see for myself the wonder that President Eddie C. Ferrer has eloquently described the first time he came in 2014. Thank you to Soledad Obedoza Montilla, UCHS alumnus, for her vision and allowing others to make it happen. Her good heart and will power give hope to these indigent families. She carries on the task even further, donates another piece of her land so that surrounding barangays of Asingan, Villasis and Urdaneta can have a place of worship, a new church, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church right next door from the Gawad Kalinga and within the jurisdiction of the Holy Diocese of Urdaneta. It is up to us now, servants of God, to do our part and make it happen.

Eddie Ferrer says, “We certainly do not have financial luxury, but simply share the thought of the poor helping the poor with whatever we have and however we can help.”  Ernie Delfin remarks, “It takes just one person (or a couple) to start a “REVOLUTION” (of the heart and mind). As Pope Francis says, ‘The world tells us to seek Success, Power and Money. But God tells us to seek HUMILITY, SERVICE AND LOVE.’ And, that is what the Montillas and our PB -USA president are showing and leading us by example. I am just very happy to be considered their friend and supporter!”

Ferrer encouraged the group by saying that amidst all the healthy economic forecast by elite financial experts, PB-USA stands aligned with Pope Francis’ world apostolate to reach the marginalized sector of our community who are more often than not downtrodden and forgotten. More actions needed. If it takes the poor to help the poor, so be it. Thanks Pete and Sol for simply being where you are where God wants you to be.

Virginia Mandapat Coquia said that the houses that are built for the indigents are small ones, but they will do for the time being. I say that these families have a roof under their heads made possible by friends who care and dare to make a change in their lives. Mike Mandapat exclaims, “We got 3 more pledges for 3 more homes as a result of this trip! They pledged on the spot! God Bless them! Thank you everyone!”

By Lino Caringal

President Eddie C. Ferrer thanked the Pangasinan government led by Governor Amado Espino for the active support to PB-USA’s ‘trade project’ that is aligned with the livelihood development thrust of the province.

Ferrer said that the Trade Task Force is silently and cautiously engaged in contacting US importers and buyers with various commodities realistically possible for our local producers to manufacture.

“We integrated our next generation professionals whose individual talents will help a lot in this trade project,“ Ferrer said as he disclosed that a special symposium will be held this year as an avenue to further introduce and expose Pangasinan-made products.

Last year, Governor Espino led strong producers of Pangasinan products in the Diversity and Trade Exposition held in Artesia, California to showcase its products.

Pangasinan-made products were displayed this business exposition that drew thousands of US buyers, including importers and wholesalers. The goal is to have top business entities as possible business partners of the Pangasinan commerce and companies.

This participation in the California Business Exposition was spearheaded by PB-USA headed by business owner Eddie C. Ferrer. It is envisioned that there will be better income opportunities await local producers of goods and products with the strong provincial government that will help local producers penetrate the global market.

By Lino Caringal

The Pangasinan Brotherhood, USA. Inc. came to pay a courtesy call to the Governor of Pangasinan, Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. on January 7, 2015. The group of 25 was led by The First Lady Rhenee Ferrer, Virginia Coquia, Neil Estrada and Executive Vice-President Lino Caringal. Caringal assured continuing support and coordination with the local producers to further introduce and expose Pangasinan products in the US.

Neil Estrada on the other hand delivered the message of the President of PB-USA Eddie C. Ferrer who said that the group has plans to showcase Pangasinan products on a US television network for advertising and marketing.

It was disclosed by the provincial government during this visit that they support local producers and cooperatives through the Livelihood Assistance Program and Credit Surety Fund by way of capital assistance for their livelihood ventures.

According to Provincial Planning and Development Officer Benita Pizarro, this trade project is in line with the thrust of the province to help producers in the grassroots level by providing them avenues for better income opportunities

LINGAYEN – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has authorized Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 1 for the implementation of the Government Internship Program (GIP) in the Province of Pangasinan.

Resolution author, Board Member Generoso D. Tulagan, Jr., said that Provincial Resolution No. 1386-2015 is in support of the national government’s goal of helping generate more jobs for the youth and reduce poverty in the countryside.

The DOLE-GIP is a new program of the national government aimed at providing employment to the poor and indigent youth.

Tulagan said that the project would give an internship opportunity for Pangasinense applicants who are high school or tech-voc (technical-vocational) graduates and unemployed college graduates between 18 to 25 years old to obtain work experience in government agencies and offices at the local and national levels.

Provincial Employment Services Office Manager Alex Ferrer said that DOLE will be shouldering 75 percent of the of the worker’s salaries while the province pays for the remaining 25 percent.   /ADV

Lingayen – The provision of quality and affordable health care services to sick Pangasinenses admitted in 14 hospitals owned and managed by the provincial government has been the top advocacy of the incumbent provincial administration.

This was reiterated by Governor Espino during a media conference held at the Doctors’ Lounge of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) in San Carlos City last June 20 shortly after he visited various wards in the hospital to personally check on the patients during his natal day.

Saying that hospitals of the provincial government have undergone dramatic transformation under his watch, making these as “hospitals of choice” for Pangasinenses, the governor stressed that poorest Pangasinenses who are sick and jobless deserve priority attention on health care services.

The provincial government implemented PhilHealth’s Point-of-Care (POC) system in 14 hospitals of the province since February 2014 where 12,630 indigent families are insured with a total premium paid amounting to Php30.31 million for curricular year 2014. An insurance premium of Php2,400 has been allocated for each indigent family.

The Point-of-Care (POC), Governor Espino said, entitles indigent patients who cannot afford to pay hospitalization expenses to a “no balance billing policy.”

The influx of patients at PPH from the average of 47 in-patients in 2007 to 427 in-patients at present is attributed to the effective and efficient delivery of health care services in the hospital.

Conversion of the provincial hospital into a medical center is being worked out to further upgrade its facilities, the governor said.

Dr. Policarpio Manuel, PPH chief, reported that the completion of the Emergency Room, Operating Room and Intensive Care Unit (ER-OR-ICU) building will further boost the capability of the facility to accommodate more surgical cases.

State-of-the-art hospital equipment including the CT Scan and filmless X-ray machine have also been doing well, Manuel added.       /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca