The Ilocos Times

DAVAO CITY Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s “rape joke” is not only tasteless and insensitive; it is more so unpresidential. His excuse that it was just “gutter language” and was speaking the language of the masses not only betray his lack of sensitivity and empathy; it also speaks ill of the Filipino people for they find insensitivity funny. His loyal supporters have come out in droves to defend the Davao mayor. But in their defense, they not only showed how insensitive they are as a group; they also displayed a naïve belief that all of Mr. Duterte’s words and actions would move the country out of the economic quagmire it is in. Mr. Duterte may be his own man. He may want to do things his way. It would have been alright if he would only be representing himself. But when he aspired for the country’s highest post, he should have understood that he would end up bearing the whole Filipino nation. His pronouncements, anecdotes and speeches have blurred the lines between jokes, ser...

Gloria, Oriental Mindoro Lakbay Aral . Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas welcomes the employees and officials of the municipality of Gloria (Oriental Mindoro) headed by Gloria Vice Mayor Ramon G. Solas. The group travelled to Laoag as part of their Lakbay Aral to on March 18, 2016. (Doms dela Cruz)

( Keynote Speech of Senator Loren Legarda during the Forum on Making Renewable Energy a Vehicle for Inclusive Growth on 26 February 2016 at the IFC Headquarters in Bonifacio Global City ) We toil today to provide a brighter future for our children. But that future can be bleak, dark and dirty if we go business as usual, if we continue to burn fossil fuels, if we continue to believe that coal is cheap, if we continue to rely on oil to fuel our needs. The late Nelson Mandela once said, “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.” Yes, we can be that generation. We can do so much to change the way we fuel our development so that we leave a greater future for our planet, for our children. Is it not ironic that 16 million Filipinos   continue to live in the dark due to lack of access to electricity when we have more than 200,000 megawatts of untapped renewable energy capacity? This is thirteen times more than our current...

By Demetrio T. Ubay Contributor “Education is something you can’t lose and it is only the wealth that we can give you.” This line was often times reiterated by my tatang and inang over dinner when we were young. It was in the same stage also that I have already fathomed a bitter sweet reality—life isn’t a bed of roses. Some of us are born with a silver spoon, some of us aren’t, and our family belonged to the latter. It might be easy for some to get educated and fulfill their dreams especially those who belong to the former. But a whole lot different if you have six siblings who live under the same roof of poverty. When the only means of living was the meager income of your parents who were both little farmers.  The reiterated line and our condition made me believe it would be the wisest choice to get educated as much as I can regardless of paucity. It was in the same stage of my life too when I thought education was the only way to realize my young dream of makin...

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By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter CURRIMAO, Ilocos Norte—Over a hundred employees of the new delivery center of Accenture in this northern part of Luzon participated in a coastal clean-up drive on April 10 at the Pangil rocks formation, a declared conservation site here with its rich coral gardens and marine fish sanctuary. The two-kilometer sprawling coastline of unique coral gardens and shallow tidal pools ideal for swimming, beach goers frequently visit this place particularly during summer.  Despite implementation of the solid waste management ordinance, several picnickers leave their garbage there unattended.   As part of the community outreach program of Accenture, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, the company initiated the coastal clean-up activity as they also donated at least 21 indigenous trash bins made of clay and covered with bamboo materials. These were set up near the highway or just a few meters fr...

R.A 9048 Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province: Ilocos Norte Municipality: Pasuquin NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION           In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. Act No. 9048 a notice is hereby served to the public that JANETTE T. CABALLERO has filed with this office a petition for change of first name from IMELDA to JANETTE in the birth certificate of IMELDA TAGUPA who was born on Nov. 2, 1961 at Pasuquin Ilocos Norte and whose parents are NORBERTO TAGUPA and SALOME MENOR.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this office not later than May 2, 2016. (SGD) FELIZA C. RATUITA Municipal Civil Registrar April 18-24, April 25-May 1, 2016*IT ______________________________________________________ REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FIRST JUDICIAL REGION Branch...