The Ilocos Times

They have lived by the sea for generations, casting nets and lines in the same waters their fathers and grandfathers fished in. But now, these small-scale, artisanal fisherfolks—once guardians of our coastal heritage—are being driven out of their traditional fishing grounds by the very laws that claim to protect the sea. It’s a cruel paradox. On one hand, we hail the establishment of marine sanctuaries as a landmark achievement in environmental conservation. Rightly so. The Philippines, with its rich biodiversity and fragile marine ecosystems, must protect what remains of its coral reefs, seagrass beds, and spawning grounds. From Apo Reef to Tubbataha, our sanctuaries are global treasures. But on the other hand, what becomes of the humble fisherfolk who now find themselves forbidden to fish where they once freely did? Are we witnessing a case of one government foot not knowing what the other is doing? The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) champions marine biod...

By Carlos V. Cornejo Sigmund Freud, famous Austrian founder of psychoanalysis got it wrong when he said the purpose of man’s life is pleasure.   Alfred Adler another world-renowned Austrian psychotherapist is likewise wrong when he said man’s purpose is to seek power.   It took another Austrian psychiatrist and a Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, to get it right when he said the meaning of man’s life lies in seeking for a purpose.   He calls it the logotherapy.   He discovered his school of thought from co-prisoners in the Nazi concentration camp who were determined to survive amidst the most horrible conditions man could experience.   The ones who endured the Holocaust were those who still had a purpose to live for, such as hoping to see their family after the war.   Those who did not have something to look forward to, gave up hope and stopped following the rules of the concentration camp and were shot.     What is the point and purpose...

Laoag  Mayor James Bryan “Alisto” Alcid solemnizes the marriage of 30 couples during the 1 st  ever “Alisto 'I Do' Wedding Expo” held at the Laoag City Multipurpose Court on September 19, 2025. ( Doms dela Cruz ) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  staff reporter Laoag CIty —The city government here, under the leadership of Mayor James Bryan “Alisto” Alcid conducted its first “Alisto ‘I Do’ Wedding and Event Expo” held at the Laoag City Multipurpose Court from September 17-19, 2025. On day 1, Alcid led the opening and ceremonial ribbon cutting of the Wedding and Event Expo where displays of events coordinators’ and suppliers’ booths featuring wedding gowns, cakes, giveaways, and other related wedding needs were established. Other food products from other merchandizers were likewise displayed t5o5 the public. On day 2, dubbed as “The Power of Creative Expressions”, invited special guests presented their creations and new ideas for weddings and other events. Relative to th...

WE should not be surprised by this reality. No matter how much we try to keep ourselves clean—physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.—we always manage to get dirty in one way or another, sooner or later. That’s part of our limited and wounded condition here in this world where we are expected to go supernatural from natural, spiritual from the merely material, etc. We should just learn how to deal properly with this condition, never losing hope since God, our Father, will always understand us and is eager to offer us mercy and whatever else we need to gain our eternal destiny. We are somehow reminded of this fact of life in that gospel parable where Christ talked about a dishonest steward who, trying to save his employment, had to do some cheating and yet was praised by the master for having the wisdom of the children of the world which is greater than that of the children of light. (cfr. Lk 16,11-13) Obviously, that parable would give rise to the question of whether God, who mu...

In a world grappling with the twin crises of climate change and rapid urbanization, some of the best solutions are taking root in the most unexpected places—literally above our heads. In Singapore, rooftop gardens are quietly transforming the urban landscape, proving that sustainability and city life don’t have to be at odds. These elevated green spaces are doing more than just softening the skyline. As reported in various sustainability studies and showcased in articles from Singapore’s National Parks Board, rooftop gardens are now being used as rainwater collection systems. When it rains, instead of letting precious water runoff into drains and disappear, these gardens absorb it. The collected rainwater is then filtered and reused to irrigate public parks, community gardens, and landscaped areas. In doing so, the gardens help reduce the strain on the city’s water supply—a crucial consideration for a nation that imports a significant portion of its water. But it doesn’t stop ther...

By Lance Patrick Enad Amidst the prevailing existentialist view of life and the moral-therapeutic deist views of religion, which even those who go to church every Sunday are guilty of, it is good to note that there are those who experience phenomena that are seemingly unexplainable by science. These experiences could be beautiful, indifferent, and several times fearsome. This write-up does not intend to scientifically disprove the existence of what we call “demonic forces” (for he would most likely flunk science subjects) or to philosophically prove the existence of these forces (as the author has not yet attained sufficient philosophical awesomeness to do so). This write-up intends to spill some useful knowledge about such fearsome phenomena and perhaps to give practical guidelines on how to deal with them, well, if you must know, some catholic guidelines on how to deal with these. Whether we believe it or neglect it, evil does exist. This could be interpreted to morally evil thi...

Eureka ! Nasarakankan, wen nasarakakon ti bagik iti Ilocano American Association of Nevada (IAAN) kalpasan iti nasurok a dua a tawen a kaaddak ditoy sirok ti disierto iti sursurotek nga init. Kas iti Hawaii a nagnaedak iti nasurok a 52 a tawen ken kaaddak iti Hawaii Filipino community a kas maysa a community organizer ken volunteer a pakairamanan iti United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Oahu Filipino community, Lions Club International, Knights of Rizal, Gumil, Tri media council , Neighborhood boards ken dadduma pay. Ken kangrunaanna iti simbaan iti St. Paul’s church Pakaidayawan ti biang iti kalawa ti ridaw ti IAAN ta inawatdak a kas naan-anay a kameng itay Abril 2025. Kas maysa kadagiti board of directors adu met pay ti kayatko nga adalen ken maamuan maipapan iti IAAN tapno saanak nga aglabsing kadagiti pagalagadan ket mabalinko met nga ipakat ken isingay dagiti bukodko a padas ken panangidalan iti maysa a gunglo. Agyamanak iti panagtalek a naited kaniak aglalo iti panagtalek n...

Frenchie  Mae Cumpio has been held in prison for more than five years. New York —More than 250 journalists and representatives from media groups around the world on September 24, 2025, called for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take “decisive action” and immediately release journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, in a letter coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the #FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio coalition. The 26-year-old journalist has been detained for more than five years, while her trial on charges of illegal possession of firearms and financing terrorism moves slowly through the court, in a case a United Nations expert called “a travesty of justice.” Cumpio is the only journalist imprisoned in the Philippines for her work. If convicted, she faces up to 40 years in jail. “It is unconscionable to hold Frenchie Mae Cumpio in prison for even one more day,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi. “President Marcos Jr. must seize the opportunity to right...