Friday, December 28, 2007 Pangan: Hopeful hopefuls By Benjie R. Pangan At Close Range
HOPE springs eternal, especially from the young. I do not believe that time and resources are wasted on them, rather, the investments we parents and guardians put on the life, career and future of our children and wards are worth the trouble of paying back our monetary debts and pecuniary obligations.
We behold our young ones as our inspirations to go on an extra mile and aspire for some more years of struggle and existence and see the fruits of our toil, positive and inspiring.
There should be no regret in rearing our offspring and see them through their own challenges: heartaches, frustrations and accomplishments. We reward ourselves with the glimmering hope of success at a certain time, as the young ones grow up to become good leaders and prominent individuals.
I know of several young Mabalaqueños who could aspire for, and win, political positions up for grabs past the Morales era in 2010. Should the incumbent good mayor Boking decide to go up the political ladder, there is no dearth in Mabalacat politics, as a considerable "cache" of hopefuls could fill in the blank space in the town's leadership totem pole.
There are incumbent Councilors Noel Castro and Christian Halili to consider or even the neophyte Eddie Sotto who has shown his political clout early in his career as he upstaged other contenders in the May 2007 elections. And what about Rox Peña, an ideal choice for either an executive or legislative post or Atty. Francis A. Dimaliwat, the visionary and hard working general manager of the Mabalacat Water District? And, by a long shot, the water district's incumbent chairman, Diosdado "Deng" T. Pangilinan who sports good credentials and bears potentials as the next town mayor?
Chairman Deng, with or without his eyeglasses, exudes charm and authority, both traits he has demonstrated in his two terms at the water facility and in his other avocations as Pampanga Press Club president and occasional stints at DWRW FM's Talakayan in 95.1
He has good ties with the church and the clergy and while he was not an exceptional student in school, he was his teachers' and classmates' favorite, for reasons only the latter know! Baka naglalagay?
With his assertive (not so much as aggressive) stance in all his undertakings, Chairman Deng becomes a come-from-behind choice for the mayorship (or a slightly lower post) after his benefactor Boking. Your move, Mr. Deng.
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Grand alumni homecoming. St. Anthony College, Mabalacat high school graduates are being invited by the alumni association president, my idol, Del Deocales, to a grand alumni homecoming on December 29 at the St. Anthony College of Technology gym, in Barangay San Francisco.
Please do come as Del promises to offer a very exciting evening for the attendees.
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Grand happenings at SM City Clark. These do not include some reports of snatching incidents inside this otherwise pleasant area where families felt secure and safe except for the bad elements that preyed on them during Christmas Day. Reportedly, there were wallets and cell phones lost but some of the victims opted to remain silent instead of reporting the incidents to the authorities or even to the SM officials. Anyway, for some good news: People may still have the chance to view the giant Santa Claus at the Events Centre, the spectacular fireworks display and a fine time for shoppers to avail themselves of up to 50 percent clearance sale on selected items.
My family and I had the opportunity to savor the good ambiance of Café Chocola owned by a long-time Macau Westin Hotel employee, Michael Capili. I particularly liked the Greenbelt style of the outlet, which is clean and orderly. Try to come and savor the different recipes there.
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I would like to greet and extend my thanks to the very accommodating Sales and Service Head of the Dolores Branch of the Philippine National Bank, Ms. Violeta Valiente Carlos who hails from Nueva Ecija.
Violy always find time to personally assist clients and potential customers and is definitely an asset to the bank, which is about to merge with another Lucio Tan firm, the Allied Bank.
My profound gratitude also goes out to the head of the SSS Angeles Branch, Ms. Laura Mariano, Lei Manahan and other staff members of that firm. They too exert extra efforts to please their callers.
