Has it ever occurred to you that many top government positions are manned by Pangasinenses? Read on.

This former mayor is a sort of great wall in his city, winning all his three consecutive tries in the city mayoralty race. And being an ally of the “best person” herself, he got the job as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID). Yup, your guess is right, Al Fernandez is the man.

he next man is a former PNP chief, Leandro Mendoza. He is now the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). Interestingly, the imcumbent PNP chief is his own kabaleyan in Mangaldan, Pangasinan, PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao.

Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) Francisco Duque III is a member of the famed Duque Clan in Pangasinan. He is a brother of two stalwarts of education in Pangasinan: Gonzalo Duque of the Lyceum Northwestern University and Cesar Duque of the University of Pangasinan.

Who doesn’t know the so-called Garfield of Congress? Speaker Joe De Venecia is like a big piece of the puzzle in the Lower House of Congress. Anyone who attempts to solve the puzzle can’t miss the congressman of the City of Dagupan, the premier city in Pangasinan.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo claims affinity to the province of Pangasinan. In her several visits to the province leading to the May 2004 elections, she toyed with her audience with her fluency in the Pangasinan tongue to the delight of the listening crowds. According to my colleague, Dr. Bambi Vinluan, GMA’s mother, Dr. Eva Macaraeg, was a native of Binalonan, Pangasinan. How about that? Two Philippine Presidents from Pangasinan.

Shall I mention the former incumbents such as Fidel Ramos, Letty Shahani, Hernani Braganza, Oscar Orbos, etc.?

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