Faces of the News: Gabino Ganggangan and Emerson ‘Emeng’ Pascual

Rebel priest Conrado Balweg who fought for Cordillera autonomy during martial law continues to exert his influence among his followers.

His close aide, Gabino Ganggangan, the mayor of the Mountain Province town of Sadanga, drew praise this week when he declined food packs meant for his agricultural town, saying it has sufficient resources and that the food should instead go to more needy communities.

Citing a social obligation to assist others during times of crisis, Ganggangan said he would ask his municipality’s “kadangyan” (affluent families) to open their rice granaries to neighbors if the need arises.

Just as service-oriented is Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, Mayor Emerson “Emeng” Pascual who earned plaudits online for his food aid package consisting of a sack of rice, bags of vegetables, live chickens and fresh eggs to 34,000 households in his city.

He even offered to donate P4.5 million that represents his total salary from July 2016 to March 2020 to help these households cope with the health crisis.

Pascual also said he would pay the rent of the city’s health workers after learning that some had tested positive for virus.