Farewell Dr. Tony Guzman
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 rom the
Philippine Statistic
Authority, he said the unemployment rate in the region dropped to 8.5% . I don’t know how to translate that and I presume even to people who are still scouting for employment. It maybe 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 bal l ’.
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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.
Michelle Catap Lacson Yesterday, March 24, World Tuberculosis or TB Day was commemorated. According to the World Health Organization, this is conducted "to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic." It was in March 24, 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB which led to the diagnosis and cure for the disease.
TB is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis which can be passed to another person through tiny droplets by coughing or sneezing. This infection affects the lungs and can lead to death if not cured right away. Dr. Lawrence Domingo writes that "active TB can occur in the first few weeks after infection with the bacteria. Signs and symptoms of active TB include cough, phlegm with blood, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, afternoon fever, night sweats, chills, and loss of appetite."
He further warns that "each person with active TB can spread the disease to 10 other