BY HIS closeness to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Pampanga’s 3rd District Rep. Dong Gonzales has been dubbed as the “third son” – after Rep. Mikey Arroyo of Pampanga’s 2nd district, the first born, and Rep. Dato Arroyo of Camarines Sur’s 1st District.
By the volume of his accomplishments in his district – and even beyond it, Cong Dong has been hailed as, arguably, GMA’s “best son.”
That the President broke bread with Cong Dong and his loved ones, family and constituents, on his birthday yesterday bespoke of the strongest of familial bonds.
That the President chose to hold her Cabinet meeting yesterday at his residence is manifest of the high esteem GMA holds Cong Dong in. So, have we ever heard or read of GMA holding Cabinet meetings in the houses of Mikey or Dato?
Quite possibly, the regular Cabinet meeting in Cong Dong’s house yesterday was the first ever held in the private home of a government official.
For Cong Dong, therefore: “This is a huge honor for me and my family, and I share this with our people in the district who love the President so much.”
As much as the President loves them, Cong Dong says: “Mahal po tayo ng ating Pangulo.”
Yes, Cong Dong feels the presidential love for the Kapampangans in general and those of the 3rd district in particular in the various infrastructure – roads and bridges, markets and multi-purpose courts, irrigation and water systems, agricultural, livelihood, health and sanitation, education and social services she has poured on her cabalens, with Cong Dong as catalyst.
Part of the president’s itinerary yesterday – her umpteenth visit to the province – was the inauguration of the 10-kilometer Quezon Road straddling the third and fourth districts of Pampanga built at an estimated cost of more than P200 million. The Quezon Road is a vital access to the eastern towns of Pampanga , Nueva Ecija and northern Luzon from the North Luzon Expressway.
Yet another program closest to Cong Dong’s heart was also graced yesterday by the President, with herself awarding financial subsidies to 1,500 high school and college scholars of Cong Dong from the component local government units of his district: Arayat, Bacolor, Mexico, Sta. Ana and the City of San Fernando.
Since his election to Congress in 2007, Cong Dong has been supporting over 16,000 poor but deserving students from the elementary to the college levels, as well as vocational education for out-of-school youth.
What could be Cong Dong’s biggest achievement so far in legislation, and, arguably, the biggest achievement in legislation by any Pampanga solon, is Republic Act 9506 that mandates the massive rehabilitation plan for Bacolor.
Conceived by Cong Dong, who also saw it through its birthing in both Houses of Congress, and its ultimate signing into law by the President, R.A. 9506 is a mini-Marshall plan to help Bacolor completely rise from the devastations of the Mount Pinatubo eruptions.
“Buong-buo po ang pagtulong at pagsuporta niya sa ating mga kabalen sa tersera distrito katulad din ng pagsuporta niya sa ibang distrito ng Pampanga. (The President has total and unconditional support to the people of the 3rd District as well as to the rest of Pampanga).” Cong Dong never tires of saying this.
The President loves Cong Dong. And he loves her in return. Amor con amor se paga.
“We share a common dream for our kabalens and our province, to give them a better life and a better future.”
So spake the third, er, best son, of his presidential mom.
By the volume of his accomplishments in his district – and even beyond it, Cong Dong has been hailed as, arguably, GMA’s “best son.”
That the President broke bread with Cong Dong and his loved ones, family and constituents, on his birthday yesterday bespoke of the strongest of familial bonds.
That the President chose to hold her Cabinet meeting yesterday at his residence is manifest of the high esteem GMA holds Cong Dong in. So, have we ever heard or read of GMA holding Cabinet meetings in the houses of Mikey or Dato?
Quite possibly, the regular Cabinet meeting in Cong Dong’s house yesterday was the first ever held in the private home of a government official.
For Cong Dong, therefore: “This is a huge honor for me and my family, and I share this with our people in the district who love the President so much.”
As much as the President loves them, Cong Dong says: “Mahal po tayo ng ating Pangulo.”
Yes, Cong Dong feels the presidential love for the Kapampangans in general and those of the 3rd district in particular in the various infrastructure – roads and bridges, markets and multi-purpose courts, irrigation and water systems, agricultural, livelihood, health and sanitation, education and social services she has poured on her cabalens, with Cong Dong as catalyst.
Part of the president’s itinerary yesterday – her umpteenth visit to the province – was the inauguration of the 10-kilometer Quezon Road straddling the third and fourth districts of Pampanga built at an estimated cost of more than P200 million. The Quezon Road is a vital access to the eastern towns of Pampanga , Nueva Ecija and northern Luzon from the North Luzon Expressway.
Yet another program closest to Cong Dong’s heart was also graced yesterday by the President, with herself awarding financial subsidies to 1,500 high school and college scholars of Cong Dong from the component local government units of his district: Arayat, Bacolor, Mexico, Sta. Ana and the City of San Fernando.
Since his election to Congress in 2007, Cong Dong has been supporting over 16,000 poor but deserving students from the elementary to the college levels, as well as vocational education for out-of-school youth.
What could be Cong Dong’s biggest achievement so far in legislation, and, arguably, the biggest achievement in legislation by any Pampanga solon, is Republic Act 9506 that mandates the massive rehabilitation plan for Bacolor.
Conceived by Cong Dong, who also saw it through its birthing in both Houses of Congress, and its ultimate signing into law by the President, R.A. 9506 is a mini-Marshall plan to help Bacolor completely rise from the devastations of the Mount Pinatubo eruptions.
“Buong-buo po ang pagtulong at pagsuporta niya sa ating mga kabalen sa tersera distrito katulad din ng pagsuporta niya sa ibang distrito ng Pampanga. (The President has total and unconditional support to the people of the 3rd District as well as to the rest of Pampanga).” Cong Dong never tires of saying this.
The President loves Cong Dong. And he loves her in return. Amor con amor se paga.
“We share a common dream for our kabalens and our province, to give them a better life and a better future.”
So spake the third, er, best son, of his presidential mom.
