The Ilocos Times

By Noralyn   O. Dudt THE "GOSPEL according to John"   is indeed a priceless document.   "But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing you may   have life in   his name" (20:31) There in Ephesus about 2,000 years ago   lived a lonely old man, the first and the last of the apostles, the great apostle to the church. His brother James was dead. Peter, the leading apostle to the Jews, was dead. Paul, the intrepid apostle to the gentile world, was dead. Thomas, Andrew, Philip, Nathaniel,   all the apostles, were dead—all except John. John   had lived through an extraordinary time. In his days, the Son of God had become the Son of man. He had been incarnated (became flesh) at Bethlehem, baptized in the river Jordan, tempted and proved sinless in the wilderness.   He had healed the sick, cleansed the leper, raised the dead. He has made the blind see, the deaf hear, the d...

By Noralyn Onto Dudt CORTISOL,   the body's primary stress hormone, is a key part of the fight-or-flight response, a natural reaction to perceived threats. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that your adrenal glands located at the top of the kidneys produce and release. Hormones are chemicals that coordinate different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it. If the brain perceives something dangerous, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) which travels to the pituitary gland, triggering the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This hormone travels to the adrenal glands, prompting them to release cortisol. Glucocorticoid s are a type of steroid hormone. They suppress inflammation in all of your bodily tissues and control metabolism in your muscles, fat, liver and bones. Glucocorticoid s also affect sleep-w...

Why does it always come as a surprise to us whenever the Philippines scores low in the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) rating system of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)? Is there no way of tracking, monitoring and reporting the performance of students nationwide, such that we will no longer be surprised whenever the PISA ratings would come out? In the latest PISA ratings, the Philippines ranked number five from the bottom with a score of 353 among a field of 81 participating countries and economies. The topnotcher is Singapore with 560 points, followed by Macau with 535 points, Taiwan with 533 points, Japan with 533 points and South Korea with 523 points. Come to think of it, Macau is not even a country, but how did they manage to score so high? To answer my own question, yes, there are software that are available for the purposes of tracking, monitoring and reporting the performance of students . The software is often called...

In a capitalist country like the Philippines, understanding the dynamics of supply and demand is crucial for determining the prices of goods and services. When the supply of goods and services is high while the demand is low, prices tend to decrease due to excess supply. On the other hand, when the demand is high and the supply is low, prices tend to increase due to scarcity. Inflation occurs when there is a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. Inflation can be caused by various factors, such as an increase in the money supply, higher production costs, or strong demand relative to supply. In a globalized economy like the Philippines, with extensive trade relations involving both exports and imports, external factors can also influence the domestic economy. For example, fluctuations in the prices of key commodities like oil can have a significant impact on the country's economy, affecting production costs and c...

By Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo What were the sufferings of Christ in His Passion and Death?   The answer is He suffered everything.   Literally everything.   All areas of human suffering we can think of is covered.   St. Thomas Aquinas gives us three.   First, on the part of men:   Christ endured suffering from Gentiles and from Jews, from men and women, from rulers, servants and mobs.   He also suffered from friends and acquaintances, such as the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter.   Second, in honor and reputation.   Friends abandoned Him.   Blasphemies were hurled at Him, mockeries and insults.   He was despoiled of His garments and was mocked as a king with a crown of thorns.   Third, He suffered everything in his body.   In his head He suffered the crown of piercing thorns; in His hands and feet from the fastening of the nails; on His face from the blows and spittle; and from the lashes over His entire body. ...

  Laoag  Mayor Michael Keon along with officials from the PAG-IBIG Fund and Dept. of Human Settlements and Urban Development conducted an on-site inspection at the construction site of EL Sands Residences at Brgy. 31 Talingaan to personally oversee and monitor the progress of the project. The Phase I of the project is on track to be finished by the end of August this year. The project comprises a total of six buildings, with Phase I alone boasting 100 units that will soon become homes to many individuals and families in need of low-cost housing. Accompanying the mayor is Elliot Louis McLoughlin, the Chairman of EL Construction & Development Group, Inc.; Randy Halasan, Director IV of the 4PH Project Management Office; Engr. Sherwin Patanao, 4PH Regional Focal Person; Herald Alinao, Ilocos Norte 4PH provincial head and Engr. Chris Jason Caccam with city engineer Engr. Marishel Batuac and city planning and development coordinator Ruby Ann Bunalade. (Doms dela Cruz )

Transforming Laoag City into a “Smart City” can certainly be a challenging endeavor, especially when faced with issues such as poor governance, lack of good leadership, incompetency, and a sluggish economy. However, it is not impossible to make progress towards this goal. Here are some steps that the local government unit (LGU) of Laoag City can consider to work towards making the city smarter: Develop a Comprehensive Smart City Plan : The first step is to create a detailed plan that outlines the vision, goals, and roadmap for transforming Laoag City into a smart city. This plan should include specific initiatives, timelines, and key performance indicators to measure progress. Build Partnerships : Collaboration with private sector companies, academic institutions, and other stakeholders can bring in expertise, resources, and funding to support smart city initiatives. Public-private partnerships can help overcome financial constraints and accelerate the implementation of projects. ...

WE need to be clear about this. Our Christian faith is not optional in our life. It is neither relevant only to some affairs and concerns in our life. It should be the main guide in all our affairs, be they in matters of the sciences and technologies, of politics and business, of our professions, and of course, of religion and our spiritual life. We are somehow reminded of this point in that gospel episode of the apostle Thomas who was kind of castigated by Christ for not believing that Christ had truly risen unless he would see Christ and the marks of the nails in his hands and feet, and of his pierced side. (cfr. Jn 20,24-29) “Put your finger here and see my hands,” Christ told Thomas when he appeared again to his disciples. “Bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe,” he continued. To which Thomas could only say, “My Lord and my God!” That was when Christ told Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those w...

By Noralyn Onto Dudt SEVERAL research studied have found an association between ultra-processed foods and all causes of mortality: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, adverse sleep outcomes, adverse anxiety outcomes,   asthma, hypertension, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, obesity,   metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The latest study published just a few weeks ago in the journal Lancet Regional Health-Europe, had just shed more light on the risks. The researchers found that eating plant-derived foods that are ultra-processed—such as meat substitutes,   fruit juices and pastries—increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. On the other hand, when plant foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts are only minimally processed,   meaning they are cleaned,   cut and packaged but served largely as they are found in nature, they have protective effect against cardiovascular disease. Food processing takes many forms: from gr...

Laoag City —SM Supermalls, in partnership with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN)-Public Employment Services Office, the Dept. of Labor and Employment, and Jobstreet by Seek conducted a job fair titled, “Trabaho para sa Super Pinoys” at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag City, on June 25. In preparation of the upcoming opening of the new SM Laoag City, the said job fair offered over 600 employment opportunities. It served as a platform for the participants to engage with industry professionals, and to explore a wide range of positions, from entry-level roles to professional careers, offering options for those looking to enter or re-enter the workforce. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led the ribbon cutting at the event, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the benefits of this new partnership, “We have to make sure na ma -maximize po natin ang mga benefits sa ating kakailian . We should think of our people first, secondly, our environment,...

By Noralyn O. Dudt The question of how to live a long, healthy life is increasingly at the forefront of medical research. While centuries ago some may have turned to finding mythical immortality-granting items like the Holy Grail, scientists now say that achieving longevity may rely on eating the right food, adopting healthy habits, and remaining socially active. Reaching your hundredth birthday means you become a member of a "special club" of centenarians.   While researchers believe the number of centenarians was very low before 1900, today many more people are able to reach this ripe old age. In 2005, National Geographic explorer Dan Buettner identified five regions in the world—dubbed “Blue Zones”, after the blue circles drawn on maps by demographic researchers—where people have consistently lived to be more than 100. While other studies indicate skepticism of records in some of the Blue Zones,   using the Blue Zones as a source of inspiration to adopt its principl...