LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – University of the Philippines Vice President Dr. Prospero “Popoy” E. de Vera III branded the Pistay Dayat celebration and the provincial government as the “best of the best” citing in his speech as guest speaker, during the program and awarding ceremonies of the Pistay Dayat 2015 held in Barangay Banaga, Bugallon recently.
De Vera, who is also the 2014 ASNA Awardee for Education, said the celebration of Pistay Dayat 2015 is the best proof that indeed Pangasinan is number one.
As a professor of Public Administration in UP, De Vera said “I take pride in calling home a highly recognized province for its successes in governance and people participation and the countless recognitions given to our province.”
As I see the scale of our celebrations in the past weeks, I take pride in the rare quality of leadership of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., the provincial board led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Jr., Congressman Leopoldo N. Bataoil, all local officials and the many organizations that have collaborated to make the festivity a success.
The best local government, Prospero said is taking it upon themselves to show that indeed the local government code works wonders in promoting local development
He told his co-workers in the LGU “kayo ang tunay na susi ng pag-unlad ng ating bayan. You are the real managers of local communities and you are the one that make this country go.”
De Vera lauded the members of the LGUs saying “you make us proud because you have provided stewardship showing that our communities are clean, green and safe.”
We have seen this occasion’s potential to awaken us to love and care for the environment, renew our faith in God, and develop and forge our common heritage customs, practices and history, he said.
Further, De Vera said that the past weeks have been extraordinarily exhilarating for all who have participated like how he felt.
He was awed with how the communities joined together to witness the festivity and celebrate oneness as a people and as a province as he told his fellow Pangasinenses who took part in the celebration that “I trust that after today, all of you will come home with a sense of accomplishment and a reinvigorated love for our province.”
In conclusion, he told the people that “as we go back to our homes, I ask that you all share our pride to the rest of the world.
De Vera who repeatedly expressed pride and gratitude for being a Pangasinense, said “let’s make everyone come to Pangasinan because you have a great place to show, great stories to tell and great people for the world to know.”
This he proudly stated even as he shared that he has posted on Facebook an invitation for people to come to Pangasinan which is a best place to invest, work, live and raise a family.
The celebration also opened new development opportunities for the province following Congressman Bataoil’s announcement that people have been clamoring of putting up a River Cruise Project where he asked Gov. Espino to perpetuate the project considering the beauty of our rivers and believing that the province can replicate the other river cruise projects done in other places.
For this, De Vera has assured the governor to help by sending professors and student from UP’s Department of History to give trainings to tour guides to make tourists enjoy a historical and meaningful tour.
Gov. Espino thanked De Vera for the assurance even as he said that the Agno River which include Limahong Chanell and extends to Domalandan, Sabangan and Estanza is one of the cleanest river in the country today.
He also took pride in announcing that the province received the award as the Cleanest, Greenest and Safest LGU last month as regional champion in the search conducted by the Regional Development Council.
By Dexter A. See