Pangan: Back to Work

IT'S normal work for most of us while those newly elected individuals are gearing for their respective elective positions come June 30 this year.

Everything is in tentative mode yet, but school habitues are now preparing materials, instructional aids, and other paraphernalia in time for school opening for 2013-2014. The K-12 program is being implemented in earnest, with the passage of its enabling law.

Peña: Isang Pasasalamat

MGA minamahal kong Mabalaqueños,

Sa ngalan ng aking pamilya, ako po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa paghalal ninyong muli sa akin bilang konsehal ng ating minamahal na siyudad ng Mabalacat. Mahirap po ang ating naging laban ngunit ating napagtagumpayan dahil sa inyong suporta. Ang mga salita ay hindi po sapat upang maipadama ko ang aking pasasalamat.

Cortez: The Holy Spirit: The God in Us

OF THE three Persons of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit is often the least known and understood. Many know the Father and the Son but have a limited knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit is God himself, one with the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Limlingan: Whatever might have happened

AS I was reading the news on this paper on Monday, I got struck by the story of an elderly man wanting answers on his complaint against a private hospital in the City of San Fernando. For a gist on the news item, a 70-year-old man named Manuel Bautista of Pilar Village in Barangay San Isidro has filed a complaint before the Department of Health, Center for Health and Development-3 (DOH-CHD 3) against a known private hospital in the city.

Morales: Necro politics

THIS election, as far as elections go, is one most loaded with upsets, and the biggest one of course is Grace Poe-Llamanzares grabbing the hotly-contested top spot, heretofore relegated to Loren Legarda, and, in seasons past, to Noli “Kabayan” de Castro, Mar Roxas, Joseph Estrada.

How did a virtual unknown climb the peak of the political Mt. Everest that had one Senate topnotcher-wannabe try to destroy another’s reputation just to land on number 1?

Tantingco: The Kapampangan in Us

WHO are the Kapampangans?

It’s not just a rhetorical question. Some people really want to know, especially after two Kapampangans from Tarlac were rejected as nominees to the annual Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards (MOKA) two years in a row.

Pangan: Sanctions

THE minor indiscretion by some elements of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has caused significant discomfort to our national officials and costly inconvenience and uncertainty to our OFWs and businessmen, just because one single Taiwanese fisherman was reportedly accidentally shot by perhaps one agitated PCG member.

Taiwan, a tiny state shun by its big brother China, is overreacting over the death of its adventurous fisherman who was at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Mercado: INCapacitated

LOCAL politics with its prolonged foreplay and uncertain climax (to bad losers) is still the hottest topic of the day.

We join certain friends who now wallow in defeat and rejoice with the victorious others.

Sapnu: Gov. Pineda lalong pag-iigihan ang trabaho

SA PANGALAWANG pagkapanalo ni Gobernadora Lilia "Nanay Baby" Pineda, inaasahan na mas pag-iigihan nito ang kanyang gawain at patuloy nitong pagtulong lalo na sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap.

Ang mga ito ay binanggit ni Pineda matapos siyang iproklama ng Provincial Board of Canvassers noong May 16 dakong 2:38 p.m.

Gueco: Free your Mind

UNLEASH the power of your mind. Be awake, stay alert and become aware.

Sparking off the lantern of enlightenment, you and I can choose to reach the heights of summum bonum (highest good) for our humanity/womanity.

Limlingan: Because of PCOS

THE Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines were in the limelight again as the Philippine mid-term elections had just been held last Monday. They were said to be the solution to the problem of long and arduous manual counting, canvassing of votes and eventually the proclamation of the winning candidates.

Ironically, the yet-to-be transmitted results have been causing delay in the wrapping-up of the 2013 elections, slightly stalling the proclamation of some candidates who want to assure their victory despite their glaring wins.

Pangan: Welcome, the New Blood

POST-election analyses abound and political circles are abuzz with questions and conjectures regarding the recently-conducted electoral exercises.

In some areas though the results have not been completed, thanks to the defaulting technical gadgets which invariably conked out during the election day process, despite the assurances of their manufacturers that they (the machines) were in tip-top shape. Long live the machines. So much for automated elections. Anyway, to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the results, parallel manual count was put in place.

Mercado: Mabuhay INC!

IT WAS the 10th day of May when the word spread that the influential Iglesia ni Cristo has "anointed" Angeles City Mayor Pamintuan as its chosen candidate for mayor.

The date is the 127th birth anniversary of INC Founder Bro. Felix Y. Manalo.

Tulabut: New Clark Terminal

THERE is a pressing need for it.

A new, bigger and better passenger terminal at Clark International Airport must be erected.

Limlingan: As of this writing

YESTERDAY marked another milestone in the political history of the country as electorates trooped to precincts to cast their votes. Some candidates' supporters likewise stormed the entrance of schools and other polling places for their last-minute efforts to somehow pick up some votes especially for the undecided voters.

Despite reminders of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the campaign period has ended last midnight of Saturday, many political supporters defied the poll body's ruling and are unstoppable in distributing flyers and unofficial sample ballots of the candidates they support.

Editorial: Our Votes, Our Future

THE PAMPANGA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) only has one appeal to Kapampangans: Vote wisely.

The message of the influential business group is clear in banners put all over the province a day or so ago: "Go out and vote wisely! Your vote. Our future."

Pangan: An Event Passes

WRITER David L. Balangue sums up the May 13 elections as another event that came and went, one that will be completed and the promises heard, soon to be forgotten, and to be heard once again in the big event of 2016.

He articulates so: "The hopes and expectations we have will remain just that, for the great majority of our voting population still continues to elect officials on the basis of popularity and relationships rather than principles, integrity, capability and true love of country and its people."

Mercado: Oca

PROBABLY I was the first member of the local media who discouraged City Mayor Oca Rodriguez to run for congressman.

I thought mayor "world class" had no chance against congressman "first class" in a local setting. I would be proven wrong.

Sapnu: Magiging peaceful at orderly ang eleksyon - Purisima

MAGIGING tahimik at maayos ang eleksyon ngayong Lunes, tiniyak ni Chief PNP Director General Alan Purisima nang nakapanayam ng mga local reporters sa Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) headquarters sa Camp Olivas.

Si Purisima ay bumisita dito noong Biyernes upang i-check ang lahat ng mga Police Regional Offices sa bansa sa kanilang paghahanda sa eleksyon.Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ni Purisima mula nang siya'y naupo bilang Chief PNP.

Garcia: King Pamamili karing Pekapun(In Choosing Leaders)

“DING babaylan, ding pekapun, ding magbaliwas, at manigoto mikakawani la king kalikasan ning dapat da, O talapagsisti ding kasalang, agpang karing paralan ning kalikasan.

Ing pangapayapa, pamanampat king sarili, pamagdimut, kabasalan, kapibabatan, katapatan, kebyasnan, belwan, at kapanyamban—deti ring panugaling nung nu la darapat ding babaylan (bramana).

Gueco: May Peace

MAY quiet time is finally here.

Elections are to be held tomorrow. Please go early to your polling precinct. Bring water and umbrella to protect yourself. If you see cheating irregularities, you may text Bantay Boto groups.

Tulabut: Local Polls: A Rundown

SURVEYS. Drawing Power. Confidence. Performance.

These are but some of the factors that make the outcome of Monday’s political exercises. They also serve as bases in writing this piece, a fearless forecast of some sort that is based on prevailing conditions. I am no Nostradamus nor Madame Auring but I could also try to predict.

Limlingan: Testing the Waters?

THE widespread blackout that hit Metro Manila and most parts of Luzon drew speculations as to the real cause behind the power outage. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) pinpointed “power generation deficiency” as the culprit.

The power failure reminded me of massive power outages during past election seasons, when the supply of electricity was deliberately cut off to facilitate cheating.

Pangan: Last Few Days

IN basketball, it is the excited call of "Last two minutes"! So much as been said and done, these past few days by aspirants for public offices: caucuses, house-to-house sorties, leaf letting, bonding with unusual people, making friends with unusual people. Add to these, the weddings, christenings, burials, graduation ceremonies and more. If only the campaign period can be extended for more impactful days or even weeks.

Limlingan: Getting Bolder

CRIMINAL elements, particularly assassins, seem to be unfazed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-imposed gun ban and police anti-violence activities such as checkpoints. They get bolder and bolder each day, shooting their victims regardless of their motives.

On the dawn of Thursday last week, police authorities killed one person and arrested seven others from whom they confiscated several assorted firearms and ammunitions in their search and seizure operations in Guagua, Pampanga.

Tantingco: Circle of Life

MY FATHER, whose first death anniversary is today, never met Liam, who was born last November.

Liam is my father’s first great-grandchild, the son of his first grandchild (Marvin), who is the son of his first child (me). My father would have been thrilled to see all three generations of us hovering over him on his sickbed. Instead, we’re laying flowers on his grave today.

Gueco: Mayor Edpam: Two Takeaways

SPREADING the gifts of daring deeds, wise words and successful service to his Cabalens (city mates) Mayor Ed Pamintuan stands on the hill of empowerment.

Mercado: The Iglesia Ni Cristo

ANGELEÑOS are virtually holding their breath as they await the “pasya” of the Iglesia ni Cristo for the mayoralty.

The INC bloc traditionally is a decisive factor in the outcome of local elections in the city and the game changer in a close contest.

Pangan: The Winnables

MY PREVIOUS column delved with the other electables. I thought I could touch on the credentials of other deserving senatorial candidates, minors compared to the more prominent aspirants with nary an elaborate network of support and logistics.

They could be assets in the Upper House, as they also tout impressive academic and career credentials compared to the big stars. They too deserve mention in this humble space.

Sapnu: Umiinit ba ang Eleksyon sa Pampanga?

ITO ang malaking katanungan dahil sa mga sunod-sunod na shooting incidents noong nakaraang linggo sa probinsya.

Nauna dito si Joseph Lacina, 40, residente ng Barangay Buenavista, Mexico, Pampanga, nang barilin at mapatay ng tinaguriang motorcycle-riding men.