Erle Frayne Argonza's Page

Erle Frayne Argonza Warlordism is an extreme form of patron-client relations. In Manila this had all but disappeared, save for one city here whose mayor hails from a small town in the North and brought his tough-guy mindset to his city. But in the provinces it is still a trend, though already a declining one. As a sociologist, economist and development expert, I thought all the while that warlordism would disappear with the advent of urbanization. As urbanization permeates every nook of… Continue

Erle Frayne D. Argonza [Writ 07 May 2008, Quezon City, MetroManila. Writer was former Livelihood Coordinator of the Ministry of Human Settlements, PAC Gonzaga, from July 1981-June 1982. In Jan. 82 he was designated Acting Deputy Provincial Manager, concurrent with the livelihood post.] Let me go through with my continuing journey as a young development professional, and transport you this time to the town of coastal town of Ballesteros in Cagayan. This town is famous for its crustaceans… Continue

Erle Frayne D. Argonza Two towns away to the east of Appari, Cagayan is the town of Gonzaga. Like its neighboring towns of Sta Ana (to its east) and Ballesteros (to its west), and those other coastal towns north of Cagayan, Gonzaga is home to fishery engagements. These are largely small fishers, or municipal fishers who could only go fishing by as much as ten (10) kilometers from the shoreline. A town in the doldrums economically, this town though had the luck of being chosen as the site for t… Continue

Erle Frayne Argonza Tuna sandwich, tuna adobo, grilled tuna, and more tuna. We’re surely a happy people here in the islands, based on Asian researches showing that in fact we’re the happiest people. I’d say tuna is among those fauna that satiates our appetites and make us happily fulfilled. In case you fellows would want to know what gears are used to catch tuna—that would not damage the environment nor the infantile tuna—let this be told. Muro ami and purse seiners are still in among some com… Continue

Erle Frayne D. Argonza Development communication is a fascinating field of development management, and I speak about the subject through experience. Here I’d focus on communicating change to the grassroots, my early experience being the first designated Public Relations Manager – Region II of the (defunct) Ministry of Human Settlements or MHS. (That’s a Director I post by the way, and I was only 24 years old then.) Change programs for the marginal sectors are not just matters of social… Continue