The Ilocos Times

CHRIST clearly said, nay, commanded us to do so. (cfr. Lk 6,27) We, of course, could not help but be incredulous by these words of Christ. Why oh why should we love our enemies when our very basic common sense would tell us the opposite? We truly need to pause a little to find why Christ, who is supposed to be the embodiment of love, the very essence of God, would say so. And the only answer we can find is that precisely God, who is full of love, cannot hate anyone or anything. And Christ showed it to us by offering his life for all our sins. He even offered forgiveness to those who crucified him. Whenever we have to deal with our enemies in whatever form they can come to us—whether in the form of persons or contradictions, difficulties, trials, failures, etc.—we should be quick to acknowledge that we are actually given a chance, an invitation to grow in love, to conform our love to the real love that Christ has shown us. Let’s also remember that Christ himself commanded us to lo...

Let’s stop pretending that recycling in the Philippines is succeeding. Despite years of government campaigns urging residents and businesses to segregate their waste, we’re still burying recyclables in landfills or leaving them to rot in dumpsites. Why? Because even when we segregate, the system doesn’t work. Garbage trucks still mix everything together. Segregated bags from households and commercial buildings often end up thrown into the same compactor, as if the effort was all for show. What’s going on here? We keep encouraging people to segregate their trash, but there’s no real infrastructure to support it. It’s like asking someone to save water in a house with broken pipes. We’ve heard the phrase many times— “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”—but how can people recycle when the government doesn’t even honor their efforts? I see it in my own neighborhood. I separate paper, plastics, bottles—but when the garbage truck arrives, the collectors lump it all together. What message does th...

  World War II Veteran Corporal Ernesto C. Luis Sr. leads the ringing of the ceremonial bell at 12:10 p.m., marking the exact minute of General Yamashita’s surrender to Filipino and American forces in 1945. Baguio City —United States of America Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong led a ceremony commemorating the 80 th  Victory Day at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Camp John Hay on September 3, 2025. Together, they honored the shared sacrifices of Filipino and Allied forces during World War II and celebrated the enduring ties between the Philippines and the United States. Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. served as the guest of honor. Victory Day marks the end of World War II in the Philippines. In the 80 years since standing shoulder-to-shoulder in battle, the Philippines and the United States have grown ever closer as friends, partners, and allies. “The liberation of the Philippines during World War ...

The  officialdom of the City Government of Batac, headed by Mayor Markee Chua, hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Brgy. Aglipay in this city, to honor the life and legacy of Msgr. Gregorio Labayan Aglipay, the first Supreme Bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. Joining Chua were Batac Vice Mayor Albert D. Chua, and the members of the Sanggunian Panlungsod. Also joining the commemoration are P/Lt. Col. Jerome Wangkey, officer-in-charge of the Batac police station; Anselmo R. Aludino of the Schools Division of the City of Batac; Brgy. Aglipay officials headed by Punong Barangay Jeff Lawrence Franco; and leaders of the Independent Church of Filipino Christians (Aglipay Memorial Church) led by Obispo Maximo Elorde F. Mateo. Aglipayanos from Regions 1, 2 and 3 also graced the celebration. Republic Act 6701 declared September 1 of every year a special non-working holiday in the City of Batac to celebrate Aglipay Day. (Photo courtesy of Batac CMO)

HOUSE THAT CARABAO MILK BUILT. Members of the Timpuyog De San Marcelino Sustainable Livelihood Program Association Inc. pose for a photo in front of the house of their co-member, Edelberto Reyes Jr., in this undated photo. Reyes built his house through savings from carabao milk production. Lei Adriano By Leilanie Adriano DINGRAS, Ilocos Norte—A remote farming village here is not yet bidding goodbye to the carabao amid farm mechanization, as improved breeds can still bring more rewards than expected. Such is the case for at least 25 small farmers in Brgy. San Marcelino in this rice granary town of Ilocos Norte who are now reaping the benefits of dairy carabao farming. "First, I was skeptical. Who would think that a carabao can build me a house of my own?" said Edelberto Reyes Jr., a member of the Timpuyog De San Marcelino Sustainable Livelihood Program Association Inc. and a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a conditional cash transfer program...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter City of Batac —Newly elected Batac Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Albert D. Chua led the inaugural session of the new set of members of the 7 th Sangguniang Panlungsod on June 7, 2025. Before the session formally started, Chua delivered his inaugural speech, focusing in the realization of the city’s goal thru team work and joint efforts by enacting ordinances and crafting resolutions that will propel Batac towards a brighter future. Chua looked forward in collaborating with the city councilors’ expertise in addressing challenges and opportunities that may come. “Let us embark this new journey with a shared vision for a better Batac and may our collective efforts and collaborative partnerships with the executive department headed by [Batac] Mayor Markee Chua bring pride, progress and prosperity to our city and out people,” Chua said. Chua likewise presented his legislative agenda in his first term as vice mayor of Batac a...

  Laoag Mayor  James Bryan Alcid signs Executive Order No. JBA 001-2025, adopting the tagline “Alisto, Asenso, Progreso” for Laoag City with the assistance of newly appointed city administrator Atty. Ed Von Cid. ( Photo courtesy of Laoag LGU) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —The new administration in this city unveiled a new tagline, ““Alisto, Asenso, Progreso”. The new tagline became effective after new Laoag Mayor James Bryan Q. Alcid signed Executive Order No. JBA 001-2025, adopting the new tagline. The neophyte mayor said the new tagline reflects the direction of the new administration in building a government that is responsive, progressive, and committed to serving all Laoagueños anchored on “Alisto” [alert and quick to respond], “Asenso” [growth and improvement], and “Progreso” [inclusive development]. In addition, Alcid likewise approved and signed two memoranda: “Implement Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act” (RPVA...

  Barangay  11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte PB Dominic B. dela Cruz and members of the barangay council attend the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag on July 8, 2025, presided by Laoag Voce Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas (upper photo) and Sangguniang Panlungsod of Batac presided by Laoag Vice President Albert D. Chua (bottom photo) on July 14, 2025. These are in line with the barangay's continuing pursuit towards legislative excellence and initiatives following their recognition as the champion in the Ilocos Norte Awards for “Barangay Excellence in Legislation” (INABEL) under the 1 st  to 3 rd  Class Municipalities Category as well as a special award for the "Annayas Iti Panag-abel". This is a recognition of the San Nicolas barangay's exemplary performance in the conduct of parliamentary procedures demonstrating exceptional knowledge, skill and adherence to the internal rules of procedures (IRP). (Photos by Rols Burgos)

Just when we thought it had faded into the background of public health concerns, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is once again making headlines in the Philippines. After years of declining or manageable numbers, why is HIV now being treated as a potential public health emergency? It wasn’t too long ago that the Department of Health (DOH) assured us that HIV cases in the country had dropped to levels they could handle. In fact, it seemed the disease had taken a back seat to more pressing issues like COVID-19 and mental health. But recent data paints a very different picture—one that is alarming enough for Health Secretary Ted Herbosa to recommend that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declare a national public health emergency. The numbers are staggering. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Francis E. Domingo reports that the country is now seeing an average of 57 new HIV cases every single day. The total number of HIV-positive individuals has reached nearly 100,000. And projections...

THAT gospel episode about Christ’s disciples experiencing a terrible tempest at sea while Christ was simply sleeping in one corner of the boat (cfr. Mt 8,23-27) should remind us that while we cannot help but be filled with fear and worries when all kinds of life’s troubles would assail us, we should never lose the hope that Christ will always come to our aid one way or another. We should try to recover our hope and serenity so that we can be in a better condition to tackle the many challenges of our life. We have to train ourselves to have this kind of reaction, knowing that trials and all kinds of difficulties are unavoidable in our life. Let’s never forget what Christ once said: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) In all our affairs and situations in life, we should always go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even if the outcome of our prayers and petitions appears unanswere...

NEW Laoag Mayor. New Laoag Mayor Bryan Alcid takes his oath along with other elected and reelected officials before former Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc at the Centennial arena.  By Dominic Dela Cruz,  Staff Reporter Laoag City —New Laoag City Mayor James Bryan Alcid formally took his oath of office administered by outgoing Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc during the Inauguration Ceremony of all the newly elected officials in the entire Province of Ilocos Norte held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on June 14, 2025. Highlighting the ceremony was the official turnover of leadership of Manotoc passing the Provincial Mace to incoming Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos as a symbol for the formal transfer of position followed by the administering of oath with the provincial higher officials down to the municipal/city officials. The former governor administered the oath of office of all the 23 newly elected mayors including Alcid, pledg...

By Noralyn Dudt FAITH and science collide, often the saying goes. But developments in biochemistry and cell biology are proving otherwise. A biochemist peers into a tiny cell and   he stands in awe by the intricacies of the molecular machines that reside there which science has been uncovering over the last decade. There are elegant machines that translate RNA into protein, others that help move the cell around and others that transmit signals from the cell surface to the nucleus, traveling along a cascading pathway of multiple components. And   It is not only   the cell that provokes a sense of astonishment -- entire organs that are made up of billions or trillions of cells are constructed in a way that can only inspire awe. Consider, for instance, the human eye, a complex camera-like organ whose anatomy and physiology continue to impress even the most sophisticated student of optics. Dr. Francis Collins, a renowned geneticist and former director of the National Ins...

Retired  educator Dra. Celeste N. Querijero now devotes her time to cultivating mushrooms and managing her farm in Misamis Oriental, which has become a model of sustainable and inclusive farming. OPOL, Misamis Oriental—After dedicating 44 years to shaping minds as an agriculture professor at the Mindanao State University (MSU), Dra. Celeste N. Querijero was offered a prestigious international consultancy post—a tempting opportunity that recognized her expertise and decades of experience. But she chose to stay closer to home to empower small farmers in the community by sharing her knowledge of sustainable farming that defined her teaching career. "Even before I retired, I already had a deep passion for agriculture,” she shared. “As MSU’s coordinator for extension services, I saw firsthand the pressing needs of our farmers. They wanted knowledge, access, and a stable livelihood. So after retirement, I volunteered myself to serve. It’s my way of giving back after all the blessi...

Laoag City —The SM Supermalls will give free access to movie screenings at their cinemas for senior citizens (SC) and persons with disabilities (PWD) exclusively for the city of Laoag City as an initiative not only to promote inclusivity and accessibility but also to enhance the overall well-being of these individuals for entertainment and social engagement. Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas, the brainchild of the said program announced this after the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Laoag government represented by outgoing Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon and Fariñas, and the SM Supemalls officials,   represented by SM Cinema SAVP. Karen C. Zabaljaurequi and North 1-SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager Rona B. Correa held June 23, 2025 at SM City Laoag.   After the MOA signing, several SC’s and PWDs who also attended the MOA signing, had the chance to watch a movie right after the program. Fariñas said that SM Cinema will allow SCs and PWDs to ...