The Ilocos Times

The following story is shared by Meir Liraz in his book titled The 100 Top Inspirational Anecdotes and Stories : Years ago there was a group of brilliant young men at the University of Wisconsin, who seemed to have amazing creative literary talent. They were would-be poets, novelists, and essayists. They were extraordinary in their ability to put the English language to its best use. These promising young men met regularly to read and critique each other's work. And critique it they did! These men were merciless with one another. They dissected the most minute literary expression into a hundred pieces. They were heartless, tough, even mean in their criticism. The sessions became such arenas of literary criticism that the members of this exclusive club called themselves the "Stranglers." Not to be outdone, the women of literary talent in the university were determined to start a club of their own, one comparable to the Stranglers. They called themselves the...

By Imelda A. Agdeppa, Ph.D. FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service Recent studies on large numbers of people with diabetes show that those who keep their blood sugar under tight control best avoid the complications of diabetes like heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower extremity amputations. Experts agree that what works best for people with diabetes—and everyone for that matter—is regular exercise, little saturated and trans fatty acids, and a high–fiber diet. Carbohydrates break quickly during digestion and can raise the blood sugar to dangerous levels. Glycemic index (GI) ranks foods on how they affect our blood sugar levels. This index measures how much our blood sugar increases after we eat. When diabetic patients make use of the glycemic index to prepare healthy meals, it keeps their blood sugar levels and weight under control. Many carbohydrate-rich foods have high glycemic indexes, and they certainly are not good in any substantial quantity for people with ...

San Nicolas Vice Mayor Alfredo P. Valdez Jr. receives a plaque of recognition from TESDA officials as a Regional  Kabalikat Awardee (municipal level) for his exemplary contribution in the advancement of technical education and skills development in the country. Doms dela Cruz

By Alfredo C. Garvida, Jr. Contributor What initially appeared as a simple territorial dispute between the municipalities of Bangui and Dumalneg about a decade ago involving Barangay San Isidro has now escalated into a fierce exchange of rhetoric and court actions between the two towns, notwithstanding that The Supreme Court has already rendered a final-and-executory decision favoring Dumalneg’s cause. In the aftermath of this SC decision, a Writ of Execution, dated June 25, 2013, was issued by the RTC Branch in Bangui mandating Dumalneg to take possession of Barangay San Isidro, the erstwhile northeastern most barangay of the Municipality of Bangui. This court decision, having already been recorded in the Entry of Judgment, appeared to have culminated a long-drawn, hard-fought legal battle involving the two neighboring municipalities on the issue of jurisdiction over Barangay San Isidro—which started on July 28, 2003 when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte, e...

SIN and evil are all around us. They are also in us, of course. They come in different ways, sizes, shapes, degrees. Some are big, conspicuous and scandalous. Others may be small, hidden, but in a certain sense also very dangerous. All sins are personal, but some have evolved to become structures in society and in our culture. We have to learn to cope with this reality that is unavoidable, given our weakened and wounded human condition. Our attitude should be that in spite of the ugliness of sin and evil, we should still remain calm and happy, convinced that everything has meaning and purpose. The basis for this attitude is Christ who took on all our sinfulness by dying on the cross and resurrecting on the third day. It’s this passion, death and resurrection of his that has removed the sting of sin and evil and has converted them into our very own way of purification and salvation. In other words, not everything is lost in sin and evil. There’s always hope, a way of de...

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, has pledged full support for post-crisis recovery once the standoff in Zamboanga City is resolved. There are three categories of post-recovery activities that PCCI will support: to extend immediate need for relief and social services to the areas affected by the standoff in Zamboanga City; help business operations get back on track; and rebuild damaged infrastructures, according to Atty. Miguel B. Varela, PCCI president. The full support, said president Varela,  was agreed upon by the PCCI board in a meeting after directors were briefed on the standoff  and the interventions requested by Mr. Ricardo Juliano, PCCI vice-president for Mindanao, and Mr. Pocholo Soliven, president of the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Juliano and Soliven described the post-crisis recovery plan as a “mini-Marshall plan” to help Zamboanga city economy back on track. At t...

Ophthalmologist Mary Ann Yasay-Luis and Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas pose with the beneficiaries of the free cataract operation. The operation was conducted from October 24 to 25   at the Laoag City General Hospital. Dr. Luis and 11 other doctors received a certificate of appreciation from the city government.  Photo by Doms dela Cruz

The capacity-building component of the Agricultural Support Component of the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) has attained 82% completion of the targeted 11 batches for the Training of Trainers (TOT) component. The TOT has so far taught 190 Agricultural Technologists (ATs) and National Irrigation Sector (NIS) personnel on Integrated Crop Management using the PalayCheck System. Trainings mainly focused on nutrient management, water management, and pest control, which are common areas that need improvement based on Focus Group Discussions conducted by Rice Technicians (RiceTechs) in over 180 Irrigators Associations (IAs) in nine regions. To date, 25 Farmers Field Schools (FFS) have been going on simultaneously for the IAs of Ilocos, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Agusan, Los Baños, Palawan, and Negros, being led by TOT graduates and RiceTechs. Three hectares Participatory Demonstration Farm cum seed production areas have been established per IA....

Manila , September 27, 2013—Sweet success for a chocolate entrepreneur. Dalareich Polot (fourth from right) won the $5,000 Grand Prize for best business presentation at the first ever Young Women Entrepreneurs Bootcamp. Polot, of Dalareich Food Products in Tagbilaran City, produces chocolate - bars (tablea) and encourages other youth to become entrepreneurs in order to create more economic opportunities in the Philippines. Organized by U.S. Embassy Manila and Spark! Philippines (Samahan ng mga Pilipina Para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran), the three-day program provided mentoring, training, and networking opportunities for 27 women business owners from throughout the Philippines. Also in the photo from left to right are U.S. Economic Officer Katy Bondy, Spark! Philippines President Mel Alonzo, U.S. Embassy Economic Counselor Joel Ehrendreich, Bernadette Manuel of Seon Kris Food Products Innovations from Surigao del Norte; Fatima Elijah Basar of Elijah's Marketing from Cotabato; K...

United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. administered the oath to 71 American Peace Corps Volunteers at the United States Embassy in Manila on September 18, 2013.  Returned Peace Corps Volunteers-- currently living and working in the Philippines, representatives from the national and local governments, non-government agencies, and senior U.S. Embassy staff attended the ceremony. The Peace Corps program in the Philippines has a long and rich history as the Philippines was the second nation chosen to receive volunteers.  Since the program was established in 1961, more than 8,500 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in the Philippines.  It is a true partnership between the people and government of Philippines and the United States. The new Volunteers have undergone 10 weeks of comprehensive cross-cultural, language, and technical training to prepare them for their work in the Philippines.  A day after the ceremony, the new Volunteers traveled to their local c...

The rescue team of the Ilocos Norte government prepositions rubber boats as supertyphoon Odette lashed the province on September 21. Photo by Alaric Yanos By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporters Strong winds and heavy rain accompanying super typhoon “Odette” (international codename Usagi) has destroyed more than P300 million worth of crops, roads, and dikes as of last report of the provincial government. At least two persons were killed, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC). On September 22 , Mario Lozano, 55, of Barangay Subec in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte went out to fish but rescuers later found him dead near his house, the PDRRMC said. The other fatality, Russel Batoon, 37, a lineman of Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC), stepped on a live wire and was electrocuted while repairing a line at Barangay Pasaleng, also in Pagudpud. While validating other damages as public storm sign...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Currimao , Ilocos Norte—An Indian national was gunned down   on the afternoon of September 24 while driving with a companion along the national highway at Barangay Lang-ayan here, a police report said. Police Sr. Insp. Ryan Retotar, Currimao police chief said the victim was identified as Surinder Singh, 37 and a resident of Batac City. He incurred at least two gunshot wounds and was rushed to the nearby Mariano Marcos Hospital and Medical Center. He died at the hospital while being treated. Recovered at the crime scene were empty shells of .45 caliber pistol.                 As of press time, investigators are looking at robbery or lending business as possible motives of the killing. Singh was the 86 th   to be killed by men riding in tandem in Ilocos Norte province since January based on the latest record of crime update here which marke...

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INEC acting general manager Engr. Herbert Agdigos assists Ilocos Norte provincial administrator Windell Chua during the blessing and ceremonial switching of the 10 MVA substation on September 19 located at Barangay 1 in Laoag City. The new substation is expected to augment the increasing load capacity in the city. Doms dela Cruz By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter To improve electricity distribution in Laoag City, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) has commissioned its 10 MV substation located at Barangay 1 on September 19. INEC acting general manager Engr. Felino Herbert Agdigos said this station would augment the increasing load capacity requirement of Laoag City, helping their Barangay 23 substation also in this city. INEC reports show that Laoag City has a total load capacity of 20 MW and INEC already has 80 percent and if this continuous to increase until 2016, the INEC official said they will again need a new substation. Agdigos discl...

MY father was a lawyer, and as early as when I was in Grade 5 or 6, I already started helping around in his office which actually was in our house also.  That’s when I discovered I was pretty good at typing some papers, but quite a disaster when it came to filing them. My father finally gave up on me in the latter, but was happy with me in the former. He had a good typist who offered his services gratis et amore. Those where very memorable years when aside from learning things in school, I had the feeling I was learning a lot more in my father’s office. I felt I had the edge over my classmates in school because of what I got from my father’s office.  There were times we had to sleep late to finish some job, and I sacrificed a little of my youthful preferences just to be with my father whom I idolized. But I was convinced it was all worth it. I actually did not miss anything from life in the streets and moviehouses with my friends. There were also amusing momen...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter BATAC CITY —The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU)-Federated Alumni Association, Inc. (FAAI) represented by its president, Bismark Angelo Quidang and Batac Vice Mayor Ronald Allan M. Nalupta are set to conduct a free civil service exam review in this city. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on September 17, 2013 at the SP session hall in the presence of Batac councilors Florencio Laud, Gwyneth Quidang, Lucky Rene Bunye, alumni relations office chief Dr. Doreen Domingo, MMSU-VP for FAAI Prof. Ciriaco Ragual and Batac City HRMO/PESO manager Marlon Soria. Quidang said the association is committed to provide utmost assistance to its members by way of extending viable opportunities, strengthening their capabilities and competence, and forging linkages for the creation of greater opportunities. Relative to this, Quidang said the association and the vice mayor will conduct free review sessions for MMSU alumni who will take t...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Batac City —Pregnant women in this city will now have an easier time when they go around and transact their various business. This came after the Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed a resolution requesting all government offices and business establishments within the city to designate a courtesy lane for pregnant women. The courtesy lane would be similar to those given to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Batac councilor Gwyneth Quidang, who sponsored the measure, said pregnant women also deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy as their condition requires utmost care and immediate attention. Under Article II Section 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, it states: “ The State recognizes the sanctity of a family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conce...