BASKETBALL BY THE FISHPOND.These men play basketball using a fishpond as their court in Manat, Binmaley, Pangasinan last January 29, 2006. The unique basketball game is part of the Binmaley town fiesta this year.CESAR S. RAMIREZ

SHOOTFEST.A firing range officer at left briefs some of the participants of the Mitura Invitational Shootfest,1st Circuit Match Level-II Philippine Practical Shooting Association's(PPSA's)-sanctioned pistol match, at the Pangasinan PNP Firing Range in Lingayen, Pangasinan last January 21 and 22, 2006. Hundreds of practical shooters from the different gun clubs in Northern and Central Luzon have participated in the said competition.CESAR RAMIREZ

READY FOR THE PRISAA GAMES 2006.A worker paints the fence at the Dagupan City Pool Side in time for the Private Schools Athletic Association(PRISAA) next month(February). The site will be the venue for the swimming competition of the annual event.CESAR RAMIREZ

GEAR FOR FIREMEN.House Speaker Jose de Venecia,Jr.(second from left) shows the full-heat protection suit he gave to the Dagupan City Fire Station last January 21,2006 at his residence in barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City. De Venecia also donated same type of suit to the Dagupan City Panda Volunteer Fire Brigade. De Venecia said the Austrian-made firefighter's gear cost about US$5,000 each to include taxes.The Speaker is donating a total of 30 gear to the different fire stations in the country, adding he will give more later this year and next year to other fire stations. Also in photo are (from left) Dagupan City Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, City fire marshal Chief Insp. Manuel Manuel and another firefighter.CESAR RAMIREZ

LAND TITLES. President Arroyo leads in giving land titles(free patent) to farmers in Pangasinan Wednesday(18 January 2006) held at the San Fabian East Central Elementary School in San Fabian, Pangasinan. Mrs. Arroyo also led in the distribution of 123 irrigation pumps for farmers and rice for school children. Also in photo are(from left) House Speaker Jose de Venecia,Jr.; Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico,Jr., League of Municipalities of the Philippines president; Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani; Mrs. Gina de Venecia, and Pangasinan Rep. Generoso Tulagan.CESAR RAMIREZ

EXHIBIT.Former President Fidel V. Ramos takes a look at some of the items on display at the City Museum in Dagupan City last Friday(13 January) during the opening of the Dagupan leg of the mobile exhibit, dubbed The War of Our Fathers…A Tribute to the Filipino Freedom Fighters, by the Philippine Veterans Bank(PVB). The exhibit features some of the artifacts and pictures during the second World War.CESAR RAMIREZ

MEMENTO.This Filipino World War II veteran takes a look at the pictures on display at the Veterans Memorial Park in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Last January 9, 2006, surviving war veterans joined in the commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the historic Lingayen Gulf Landings by the Allied Forces led by the Americans headed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The simultaneous amphibious landings started the campaign by the Allied Forces to liberate Luzon Island from the Japanese Occupation.CESAR RAMIREZ

TALONG FESTIVAL.These High School students in Villasis, Pangasinan are all garb in colorful costumes as they join the street dance contest of the first-ever Talong Festival in the town last January 11, 2006. The town also grilled three tons of eggplants in a 500-meter grill lined-up along the MacArthur Highway in Poblacion.CESAR RAMIREZ

TALONG FESTIVAL. Residents of Villasis, Pangasinan grills three tons of eggplants at the 500-meter grill lined up along the MacArthur Highway during their first-ever Talong Festival last January 11,2006. Town Mayor Nonato Abrenica said the event is a dry run as they plan for an attempt for a Guinness World Records next year.CESAR RAMIREZ