Skip to main content

Vatican grants Ilocos Norte its 1st IP priest


By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—The Catholic Church ordained a 29-year-old deacon on July 31, 2018 in his home-parish of Saint Gabriel in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.

The first mass of Rev. Metchell Valdepeña was at 3:pm after his presbyterial ordination in the morning.

For the Diocese of Laoag led by Bishop Renato Mayugba, parishioners said they are “excited and thankful for the rare privilege granted” by the Vatican to a deacon. This refers to a special plenary indulgence, the Vaticans Apostolic Penitentiary granted to whoever attends his first mass.

The decree was signed on June 28, 2018, in the name and authority of Pope Francis, by His Eminence, Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, the Major Penitentiary.

The decree mandates that whoever attends the first mass of Fr. Valdepeña shall receive a special plenary indulgence.

For a devout Catholic like Rommel Sagucio, he said “A plenary indulgence is believed to remove all the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven.” 

This is a special privilege the Apostolic Penitentiary accords to deacons who request for such privilege.

For his part, Fr. Valdepeña said he is grateful for receiving the privilege. He likewise expressed gratitude to Bishop Mayugba “for his full support and fatherly concern to him and his fellow members of the Clergy.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi