AMONG all towns and cities of Pampanga, it is Angeles City which has more flickering lights at night. Nightlife in this city is being done differently. Before the pandemic came unleashing its destructive virus, the daytime population is only a little more vis-a-vis nighttime population. The city can be described like the big apple New York City. It doesn’t sleep. Night clubs, kiosks, video bars, restaurants, spas and massage parlors never run out of late time patrons. Just like any other communities all over the world, Angeles City also is suffering from economic downturn. Many establishments downsized their operations and few others closed shops. Many lose their jobs. Others are more resilient and are still breathing a little above water, so to speak, and waiting that the proverbial light cruising in a dark tunnel will flash.
Comes now the news carried by this newspaper in its Tuesday issue and bannered with much pride that the economic outlook for Central Luzon is “positive.” “Generally positive,” it says. Bataan Governor Abet Garcia has credibility. He heads the Regional Development Council. Quoting a report from the Philippine Statistic Authority, he said the unemployment rate in the region dropped to 8.5 percent. I don’t know how to translate that and I presume even to people who are still scouting for employment. It may be a balm in the wound. Or maybe, they are simply statements of probability since the much expected and awaited vaccines are about to come. Are they really coming from General Carlitos Galvez? Please stop “dropping the ball.”
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What about prices of commodities? According to the Department of Trade and Industries, which in my book is one inutile agency when it comes to monitoring prices, it noted that prices of basic necessities and prime commodities are within the suggested retail price (SRP). May I ask if P400 per kilo of pork is within the SRP? May I know if DTI penalized in the past any vendor selling three times the original amount of flower bouquet during Valentine’s Day? Or candles are priced three folds every time All Saints a Day is commemorated? Ask any store owner in the country if ever they were inspected by DTI inspectors. Ramon Lopez just like the many members of Duterte’s cabinet should have been given the pink slip long time ago.
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Farewell Doc Tony. Hundreds of his friends are grieving for the sudden departure of Dr. Antonio Guzman. He died early Monday morning. He was 72 years old. Doc Tony was a member of our Monday Club and past president of the Rotary Club of Angeles. He was also with Free Mason brotherhood. A regular fellow. Humble, kind and nice. At the time of his death he was the medical director of the Angeles Medical Center. He was originally from Magalang and moved to Angeles after passing the board. Got married to Belen a beautiful maiden from the north and regular contestant of beauty pageants in her younger years. They got married in Cambodia and Ambassador Rogelio De La Rosa was their godfather. He told that story a hundred times in our fellowships. For some time he was a member of the provincial board and made an unsuccessful run for the Magalang mayorship. Doc Tony will be long remembered and will be terribly missed by his family, colleagues and friends.