The Ilocos Times

RECOGNIZING COMMUNICATION EXCELLENCE. LANDBANK bags six Quill Awards for communication initiatives that connect and empower Filipinos during the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards on 27 August 2026 at Solaire Resort North in Parañaque City. Receiving the awards on behalf of the Bank were Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs Catherine Rowena B. Villanueva (center-left), Vice President for Public Communications Gaudioso Carlos A. Garcia VI (center-right), and Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications and Events Melissa B. Calimag (2 nd from center-left), together with other officers and personnel from LANDBANK’s Corporate Affairs Group. LANDBANK’s efforts to connect Filipinos to opportunities, champion sustainability , and support underserved communities earned six recognitions at the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards, affirming the Bank’s development impact beyond banking. The state-run bank received three Excellence Awards and three Merit Awards in communication manage...

WATER RESERVE. A water impounding project in Batac City , Ilocos Norte stores rainwater for agricultural use in this undated photo. The provincial government has allocated PHP25 million to build at least 23 rainwater catchment facilities as part of preparations for prolonged dry conditions . ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY —The Ilocos Norte provincial government has set aside PHP25 million for the construction of at least 23 rainwater catchment facilities as the province prepares for prolonged dry conditions and possible El Niño impacts. Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) officer Marcell Tabije confirmed the allocation following a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Tabije said the project is intended to augment water supplies in communities that could face reduced availability during extended periods of below-normal rainfall. “The investment comes as communities face increasing pressure on w...

Manila — The governments of the United States, the Philippines, and Japan hosted today the inaugural Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Investment Forum. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Deputy Director Thomas Hardy, Philippine Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go, Philippine Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Ono Sho, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines, attended. Sponsored by USTDA, the forum brought together more than 600 investors, industry leaders, and government officials to mobilize private-sector investment and accelerate commercial partnerships in transportation, energy, digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing supply chains. It featured deal signings, project pitches, and discussions focused on improving connectivity, strengthening supply chains, and unlocking pr...

IT’S sad to note that some people simply cannot be pleased. That is exactly what Jesus exposed in Gospel reading of September 16, Memorial of St. Cornelius and Cyprian, Martyrs (cfr. Lk 7,31-35). The people of his time rejected John the Baptist because he fasted too much. Then they rejected Jesus because he mingled with ordinary people, ate with sinners, and attended celebrations. John was "too strict." Jesus was "too friendly." The problem was neither John nor Jesus. The real problem was the hardened heart . This Gospel is more relevant than ever. We can easily fall into the same trap. We become experts at criticizing. If someone is prayerful, we call him fanatical. If another is approachable and cheerful, we accuse him of lacking seriousness. We find fault with almost everyone while refusing to examine ourselves. It’s an attitude blocks grace . God comes to us in many forms. Sometimes he challenges us through demanding people. Sometimes he consoles us ...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY —The city government of Laoag has expressed its appreciation to Davies Paints Philippines Inc. for supporting the repainting of all 92 Child Development Centers (CDCs) across the city. Laoag councilor Donald Nicolas said the Sangguniang Panlungsod has authorized Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid to enter into and sign a tripartite agreement with Liga ng mga Barangay President and ex-officio Sangguniang Panlungsod member Roque Benjamin C. Ablan and Davies Paints Philippines Inc., represented by Vice President for Business Development Engr. Maria Rosario Quintos. Under the proposed agreement, Davies Paints will donate 450 pails of paint valued at PHP1.3 million for the repainting of the city’s 92 CDCs. Nicolas said the project responds to the need to maintain and improve the facilities where young children receive early childhood care and development services. Repainting the centers will help improve their physical co...

By Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo Here’s a summary of the famous book of the same title by best-selling author Ryan Holiday .   First, Mr. Holiday tells us about the Three Areas in Life when the problematic ego appears.   First area is aspiring.   Aspiring in the wrong way means we are more of talking than doing.   Or we end up not walking our talk.   The author says, “It’s a temptation that exists for everyone—for talk and hype to replace action.”   It is that constant concern of what people would think of us, making comments on social media of what we plan to do, instead of doing it.   Mr. Holiday made the example of Emily Gould , a famous novelist and blogger who was constantly posting on the plans she had for her book and what her followers on Twitter would say about it that she ended up wasting her time on her comments and replies to her fans instead of working on the book.   The second area in our life that makes the problematic ego rear its ...