The Ilocos Times

A PHONE can connect us to a friend across the world within seconds, yet it can also make someone sitting beside us feel completely ignored. Social media is neither simply good nor bad. It is a powerful tool whose value depends greatly on how wisely we use it. Social media allows families to remain connected, especially when distance separates loved ones. It can spread useful information, support small businesses, provide learning opportunities, encourage charitable action, and give people platforms to share creativity. Used properly, it can strengthen relationships and contribute positively to society. Yet the same platforms can become sources of comparison, envy, anger, misinformation, vanity, and distraction. Endless scrolling can consume hours without producing anything worthwhile. Arguments can become vicious, private matters can become public, and carefully edited images can make ordinary lives appear disappointingly inadequate. The first discipline we need is self-control ....

LIVING TREASURE. Magdalena Gamayo , a Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan Awardee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2012, celebrates her 102nd birthday on Thursday (Aug. 13, 2026). The House of Representatives has approved House Bill 982 , declaring Aug. 13 of each year as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte to celebrate the birth of the icon, known for her commitment to preserving the Ilocano traditional handwoven fabric called “ inabel .” ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie G. Adriano PINILI, Ilocos Norte—Ilocos Norte celebrated on August 13, 2026, the 102 nd birthday of Magdalena Gamayo, the province's revered “master weaver” and one of the country's most distinguished traditional artists, honoring a lifetime of dedication to preserving the centuries-old “inabel” weaving tradition. Born on Aug. 13, 1924, in Pinili , Gamayo has spent decades mastering the intricate art of handloom weaving. The celebration was held in the quaint barangay of Lumbaan-Bicb...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter LAOAG CITY —The city government of Laoag has adopted and institutionalized the Department of the Interior and Local Government ’s ( DILG ) “Safer Cities Initiative” to strengthen public safety, order and decency in public spaces. The nationwide initiative calls on local government units to enact and strictly enforce community safety measures. Laoag City Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas , who authored the measure, said it is timely amid recent violent incidents in schools involving minors. He said measures such as curfew enforcement , noise regulation and public decency standards can help prevent disturbances and promote a safer environment for residents and visitors. Under the measure, existing city and provincial regulations on curfew, excessive noise and public drinking will be harmonized and strengthened. Minors 17 years old and below are prohibited from loitering, roaming or staying in public ...

Researchers , journalists, broadcasters, and child rights advocates have called for more child-sensitive reporting on issues involving children, stressing the importance of responsible, evidence-based communication in protecting children's rights and welfare. The call was made during the launch of “Ang Bata sa Lente ng Pananaliksik at Midya,” a national webinar series organized by the Philippines Communication Society (PCS) in partnership with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), and the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT). Opening the webinar, PIDS President Philip Arnold P. Tuaño emphasized the role of evidence and responsible communication in shaping public understanding and institutional responses to children's needs. "The studies we tell, the images we share, the language we use, and the policies we advocate all influence how s...

San Nicolas Mayor Edmar Vincent Bonoan delivers his first State of San Nicolas Address (SOSNA) 2026 in a special session conducted by the Sangguniang Bayan headed by San Nicolas Vice Mayor and presiding officer Napoleon Hernando before the people of San Nicolas held at the Robinsons Mall Cinema 4 on August 10, 2026. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz,  Staff reporter SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte—Mayor Edmar Vincent Bonoan delivered his first State of San Nicolas Address (SOSNA) on August 10, 2026, highlighting the administration’s first-year accomplishments, ongoing programs and development priorities for the municipality. The address was delivered during a special session of the Sangguniang Bayan, presided over by Vice Mayor Napoleon Hernando, and attended by municipal and barangay officials, government agencies, stakeholders and residents. Bonoan thanked San Nicoleños for entrusting him and his administration with the responsibility of leading the municipality. He s...

Let me start with some clarity: Yes, I believe the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) does have a role over pollution, because part of its mandate is “prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution.”   And if pollution is on the table, then surely urban noise must count too, in my view. After all, noise is a kind of environmental pollutant—one that doesn’t dirty rivers or skies but invades our ears, our well-being, even our sleep. But who in Metro Manila is worrying about noise pollution ? The usual complaints tend to be about traffic congestion, floods, or waste management—not decibel levels. That raises a serious question: is the MMDA even paying attention to noise as part of its environmental-management function? If the answer is no, maybe it should. Here’s what got me thinking: Germany is experimenting with what some call soundproof trees . This is not science fiction. Engineers there are developing trees with denser foliage and thicker bark ...

How difficult can this technology be? That was my first question when I read that Japan has launched its first osmotic power plant in Fukuoka . If this is now operational in a highly industrialized country, what is stopping us from trying it here—especially when we already have the two basic ingredients: freshwater and saltwater. In a country made up of more than 7,600 islands, these two resources meet almost everywhere. This brings us to the classic dilemma: to make or to buy? But if Japan, through JICA , is willing to transfer the technology, then we neither make nor buy—we simply cooperate. And why compete with Japan anyway if they are willing to share their expertise? The real question is: Who in our government is actually in charge of technology transfer ? Is it the DOST ? Is it the DFA ? Or is it, as often happens, nobody in particular—which means nothing happens at all? Japan’s new osmotic power plant is an example of innovation grounded in simple natural processes. The ...

"BEWARE of Dogs" has long been the neighborhood's most honest security system. The sign warns visitors to tread carefully because the animal behind the gate may not bother distinguishing friend from foe. Loyalty is admirable, but instinct is not always discerning. Artificial intelligence deserves its own version of that warning. AI is brilliant, fast, and astonishingly useful. But like any powerful servant, it can become a dangerous master when driven by vanity, ambition, or the illusion that technology alone can answer every human question. The newest fascination is no longer just smarter machines. It is the dream of smarter humans—or even something beyond human. Transhumanism promises to upgrade humanity, while posthumanism quietly suggests that humanity itself may already be obsolete. That should give us pause. Every age has had its Tower of Babel , its confidence that human ingenuity could climb high enough to replace dependence on God. Today's tower is b...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter Laoag City —The city government of Laoag will establish a comprehensive school safety, violence prevention, and emergency response program for all public and private educational institutions within the city. The initiative aims to provide mechanisms for preventing school-related violence, including shooting incidents, stabbings, armed attacks, and other security risks, through a unified school safety framework. Laoag Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas announced the measure in light of the tragic school shooting incident in Tacloban City on June 22, 2026, where minors planned and executed a deadly attack. The incident highlights the urgent need to strengthen school safety measures, early detection systems, and coordinated response protocols to prevent similar occurrences in Laoag City. Fariñas, who authored the ordinance, cited existing national laws that protect children and provide intervention progr...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally visits the site of the fire at the Batac Public Market and awards PHP 150 million as initial funding for the construction of a new Batac Public Market, as Mayor Mark Christian “Markee” Chua presents the proposed site and building. Governor Cecilia Marcos, 2nd District Congressman Angelo Marcos Barba, and city officials headed by Vice Mayor Albert Chua were also present during the inspection. ( Photo courtesy of CMO Batac)   By Dominic B. dela Cruz. Staff reporter City of Batac — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the Batac Public Market to personally inspect the damage caused by the July 5, 2026 fire and meet with affected stallholders. During his visit, the President turned over PHP 150 million in funding to the City Government of Batac for the construction of a new public market through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). President Marcos was joined by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian , Ilocos Norte 2 nd District Congr...