The Ilocos Times

Cancer is not just a disease—it is a systemic failure. In the Philippines today, we see this reality drawn in stark numbers: over 180,000 new cancer cases reported yearly, and 466,000 Filipinos living with cancer within the last five years. Every day, we lose more than 300 Filipinos to cancer, according to recent cancer-summit data. These are not just statistics—these are lives undone, families saddened, and dreams stunted. What’s worse, these may be conservative figures: many cancer cases among the poor go unreported, uncounted. Yet, for all this burden, we lack a national cancer institution at par with the Philippine Heart Center for heart disease or the Lung Center of the Philippines for respiratory illness. Instead, cancer care is fragmented. Yes, we have several cancer treatment centers—but none fully symbolizes the unity, capacity, and recognition of a national “cancer hospital.” At the heart of the nation’s public cancer fight is the PGH Cancer Institute , part of the Uni...

  OPERATIONAL REFORM. Linemen of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) replace old electric posts in Laoag City in this undated photo. INEC on Friday (July 31, 2026) welcomed the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to revisit the Electric Power Industry Reform Act . (Contributed Photo) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) has intensified its efforts to reduce system loss by strengthening power distribution management, curbing electricity theft, and upgrading its electrical infrastructure to improve service efficiency and reliability. In a letter addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. following his fifth State of the Nation Address , INEC general manager Cipriano Martinez III shared the ongoing operational reforms being undertaken over the past three years by the lone electric distribution utility here to reduce system losses. “We at INEC, hear you, Mr. President. As the electric cooperative of your home province, no...

ALS GRADUATES. Some of the 464 learners graduate from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in Dingras, Ilocos Norte on July 30, 2026. This is part of the province's efforts to provide second-chance education for out-of-school youth and adults . (Livestream screengrab) By Leilanie Adriano DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte —A total of 464 learners graduated from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in Ilocos Norte on Thursday, marking another milestone in the province's efforts to provide second-chance education for out-of-school youth and adults. The graduates completed either the elementary or secondary level through the Department of Education's ALS program , which offers flexible learning opportunities for individuals who were unable to finish formal basic education due to financial constraints, work, family responsibilities or other circumstances. During the graduation rites hosted by the municipal government of Dingras, Ilocos Norte, Schools Division Superintendent Donato...

Cities with fully automated business permitting systems recorded stronger growth in local business tax revenue than cities that had not fully automated their permitting processes, according to a new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). The study, titled “Relevance of e-Governance in Revenue Generation among Philippine Cities,” found that cities with fully automated Business Permits and Licensing Systems (BPLS) were associated with an 18.16-percentage-point increase in local business tax (LBT) revenue growth compared with cities that had not fully automated their permitting processes. These cities also recorded higher levels of active business establishments, suggesting that streamlined digital services can encourage business formation and expansion. Authored by PIDS supervising research specialist Tatum Ramos and Vice President Marife Ballesteros , the study examined data from 138 cities to determine whether digitalizing business permitting contribu...

By Carlos V. Cornejo A good book on making big decisions, reveal blind spots and come up with creative methods in solving problems is that of Shane Parrish entitled “The Great Mental Models”.   It makes use of the acronym I.F.S to recall the mental models of Inversion , First Principle Thinking , and Second-Order Thinking . Inversion means if you are having a hard time solving a problem, try to look at that problem in another perspective by solving the opposite problem.   Instead of asking, “How can I make a really good presentation video?” ask, “How can I make a really bad presentation video?”   If you come up with a list of how to make a bad video it might be using a PowerPoint with no images and just pure texts, use a monotone voice that makes the presentation boring and put your audience to sleep, and make it longer than it needs to be.   Since you’ve imagined what a bad presentation looks like you can now come up with the criteria of a good one if you inv...

MUSIC has always been more than entertainment. It is woven into the fabric of human life and, more importantly, into our spiritual journey . The Bible alone testifies to this truth, containing hundreds of references to singing, musical instruments, and songs. From the Psalms to the heavenly choirs in Revelation , music has long been a powerful expression of faith and worship . In everyday life, music speaks a language that words often cannot. It comforts us in moments of sorrow, lifts our spirits when we are weary, energizes us during physical activity, and calms us after stressful days. It has an extraordinary ability to reach the heart, making it one of humanity's most universal forms of expression. Music also brings people together. Whether in worship, celebration, or shared moments of grief, singing creates a common rhythm that unites individuals into a community. It strengthens relationships and even rekindles memories. A familiar melody can instantly transport us to a ...