Bahay Ni Juan

Hanging Out With Prospero Pichay, Sr. 

www.igougo.com

A whole afternoon of trying out surfing had most of the gang become aware how laundry in the washing machine feels. Everyone tumbled and turned in the waves and would be taking home a souvenir of bruises here and there.

After we have showered and eaten, we decided to go to the Boulevard we saw when we got to Lanuza. Spanning probably more than a kilometer, it actually drew our attention because of its bricked walkway, iron-wrought benches and fancy lamp posts. We all felt it was an odd thing to have for such a small sixth class municipality. For a town which road needs work, the Prospero Pichay, Sr. Boulevard stood out in its extravagance. But we had to give it to whoever made it, it was beautiful.

I had no idea who Prospero Pichay, Sr. was, but logic tells me that he is (was?) the father of the Surigao Congressman running for Senate during the May 2007 elections. And this congressman was someone I would definitely not vote for. But hey, like him or not…that Boulevard is probably a favorite spot during the International Surfing Festival every November.

The day has long gone and the night has nestled itself comfortably into the sky. Everyone was pooped from the afternoon extreme sports. But the cool sea wind was beckoning, telling us to take some time to just sit on the benches and enjoy the sound of the sea.

As we sat, ate chips and told stories, I felt it was a nice way to cap the day. We all lived in a place where the night was greeted by a barrage of lights and drowned by noise pollution. That time, we were facing the ocean, with only pinpricks of light from the houses on the shore and the sounds of nature emphasizing the silence. The light from the lamps actually set the ambience for the evening rather than overpowered it. The crescent moon and the generous sprinkling of stars were simply breathtaking, a sight to behold. The waves that were beating us up just that afternoon has quieted a little. They came at slow intervals, lapping at the shore and sucking at the sand. Our usual loud voices were noticeably slightly toned down, though unintentionally.

I guess in the silence of our hearts, what was happening that moment was something we city folks rarely get to experience and something we want to enjoy the fullest.

When we finally left the Boulevard, our bodies may have been tired but our souls were refreshed by God’s wonderful creations.

Prospero Arreza Pichay, Jr. (born June 20, 1950), also known as Butch Pichay and Pro-Pinoy Pichay, is a Philippine politician. He is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from 1998 to the present. He is the chairman of the Committee on National Defense of the 13th Congress of the Philippines and is on his third and last term^[1] as Representative of the 1st District of Surigao del Sur. He is a member of the dominant political party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino.

Pichay was born on June 20, 1950 in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, . He is the son of Carmen, Surigao del Sur Provincial Treasurer Prospero Pichay Sr. He is a relative of Wenceslao Arreza, mayor of Carmen, Surigao del Sur and Alfred Arreza, mayor of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur. He is the second cousin of Carmeling Pichay-Crisologo, former Governor of Ilocos Sur whose husband, Ilocos Sur Representative Floro Crisologo who was allegedly gunned down by his own nephew Chavit Singson who is also running with Pichay under TEAM Unity.

Pichay went to Tandag Central Elementary School and graduated in 1962. He went to Saint Peter’s Academy of Surigao and graduated in 1966. He graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce at De La Salle University in Manila in 1970.

Business and sports career

Pichay is the owner of Carlo Commercial Publishing, a printing press, and Carlo Publishing, the makers of hit street tabloid "Remate". He also owns DZME a commercial AM radio station in Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City.

Pichay is an avid surfer. While a young boy, Pichay would wonder in awe at the big waves in his native Surigao del Sur, and pitied the fishermen who had to struggle with them to survive. He would realize much later that these forces of the sea could be effective tools in contributing to development through tourism, hence, his determined efforts to promote surfing in the country. As Chairman of the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF), Pichay promotes the various surfing destinations in the country, including the town of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Pichay is also a chess enthusiast. He is the president of National Philippines (NCFP). He is a close friend of Philippine chess grandmaster Eugene Torre, and Mark Paragua. In terms of skill, he can be considered a novice. He only became the president of NCFP because of his desire to elevate the sport.

Political career

Congressman (1998-2007)

With no prior experience in politics, Pichay ran for congressman for the 1st District of Surigao del Sur in the 1998 elections for the position to be vacated by Mario S. Ty (1987-1998) ^[1]

In 2000, Pichay joins congressmen who endorsed the verified complaint against President Joseph Estrada. Coming under the heels of EDSA 2, Congress was reorganized and Pichay was elected Chairman of the House Committee on National Defense. He was again named to the same post when his constituents overwhelmingly voted him into office in the elections for the 12th Congress. Pichay was re-elected as congressman in the 2004 elections. When the Thirteenth Congress was organized, Pichay’s political career would take on a more prominent course: he was named Head of the House of Representatives Contingent to the powerful Commission on Appointment (CA).

Pichay voted to junk the 2005 and 2006 impeachment complaints against President Arroyo. At the height of the "Hello Garci Scandal", he said there is nothing wrong with Arroyo talking to Comelec officials, as all candidates talk to them to protect their votes. On October 2006, Pichay authored House Resolution 1285, which sought to convene a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. One of his proposals is the abolision of the Philippine senate and the creation of a unicameral parliament. The resolution was widely opposed by civil society and church groups and the resolution was shelved on the same month.

When the Department of Justice announced a plan to ban all government officials from going to bars, karaoke joints and other nightspots, Pichay assailed the move as the "highest form of hypocrisy." Pichay believes there is nothing wrong with going to bars if public officials do it on their own time. “Moralizing is very subjective. We should not mix it with governance."

2007 senatorial bid

2010 Wish List

On January 21, 2008, Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, a vice chair of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and well known cocaine aficionado released the WISH LIST of 2010 possible senatorial candidates:

• Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita
• Deputy Speakers Raul del Mar of Cebu
• Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao
• House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor of Iloilo
• House budget panel chair Edcel Lagman of Albay
• Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, head of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments, and
• Former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay

• Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte
• Palawan Governor Joel Reyes
• Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymond Villafuerte and
• Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.^[2]
• Action Star/TV Personality Ramon Bautista
• All-around Hunk Mark Nelson

BAP president

Pichay was elected as the new president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines on December 13, 2007. To date, this is his greatest achievement.

Bills co-authored

• RA 9355 - Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Islands
• RA 9340 - Amending RA 9164 to extend the terms of office of barangay officials and reset the date of barangay elections
• RA 9344 - Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act