The Ilocos Times

Awardees from the Laoag City Agriculture Office pose after Gawad Saka Awarding Ceremony held November 11, 2019 in Baguio City. They bagged the highest number of major awards. This awarding ceremony is the brainchild of the Department of Agriculture as it aims to acknowledge distinguished organizations and individuals who have excelled and made significant contributions in the development of the agriculture and fishery sectors in the country. The regional awardees are: Mr. Edgardo S. Guerrero as Outstanding Rice Farmer; Mr. Geoffrey Pascual as Outstanding Corn Farmer; Mr. and Mrs. Dominador Ignacio and family as the Outstanding Farm Family; Ms. Velma D. Joaquin as Outstanding Sugarcane Farmer; Mr. Policarpio P. Pascua as Outstanding Agri-Entrepreneur and City Agricultural and Fishery Council as the Outstanding AFC. The awardees received plaques of recognition and cash prizes and became representatives of the region in the national search. (Doms dela Cruz)

Laoag City — The Province of Ilocos Norte’s greening initiative against climate change was recognized as a national pioneer during the “Cash-for-Work for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. On October 8 to 10, 2019 environment and natural resources office (ENRO) project head Estrella Sacro, presented the “Barangay Ranger Officer” (BRO) initiative under the “Green Wall Project” of the province. The presentation was held in Metro Manila, with eight other provinces in Luzon participating. “ Madami ang humanga sa implementation ng BRO natin kasi sa ibang probinsya wala silang ganito. Sabi ng panel of judges, kakaiba ang ating project,” Ms. Sacro remarked.   The BROs are primarily tasked to protect and maintain the “Green Wall Project” on identified plantation sites. Some of their responsibilities include forest fire prevention, planting of seedling, application of fertilizers to ensure high surviv

  International Beauties. Winners in the best in national costume were: (from left) Miss Morocco, Miss Vietnam, Miss Poland, Miss Vietnam, Miss Mexico and Miss Philippines. The coronation night is set on Oct. 27, 2019 at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of Miss Tourism Queen Worldwide) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur—Barely two days before the October 27, 2019 grand coronation for Miss Tourism Queen Worldwide 2019, the Philippines’ bet Theresa Diana Macalino Pazcoguin from Paniqui, Tarlac province is oozing with charisma and confidence she will claim the crown in this prestigious international beauty pageant. Looking radiant in her golden Filipiniana attire with defined flower patches, the Tarlac beauty queen emerged as one of the top five winners in the search for best in national costume held at the Terraza de Niño Resort in Brgy. Aggay, Bantay, Ilocos Sur. She shared the centerstag

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG CITY – Seven of the 21 municipalities and two cities in Ilocos Norte namely: Bacarra, Bangui, Banna, Burgos, Currimao, San Nicolas and Vintar received the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awards for 2019. The DILG conducted its national validation in the different local government units (LGUs) in the entire Philippines after passing the assessment criteria and qualifications for the SGLG screening. In 2018, the towns of Piddig, Bacarra, Currimao, Paoay, and San Nicolas received the same award. The SGLG qualifiers must attain the criteria on a progressive assessment system such as: financial administration: foster transparency and accountability; disaster preparedness: prepare for challenges posed by disasters; social protection: broaden access to social services especially the marginalized and most vulnerable in the community; peace and order: protect the community fro

By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG CITY—The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino [Filipino Language Commission] joined the celebration of the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) and honored teachers for their unique ability to teach and use the national language. Amongst the five college teacher-nominees, Maria Eliza Lopez of the Mariano Marcos State University bagged the “Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2019 [exemplary teacher in Filipino]” in the recently concluded “Gawad Ulirang Guro 2019 held at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila on October 1, 2019. Mrs. Lopez bested the other 139 teacher-nominees from all over the country. The commission recognized her for her dedication in teaching the Filipino language, as well as the promotion of the indigenous language and culture in their homelands. The recognition activity is part of the commission’s ongoing drive to promote and develop the Filipino language through incentives, grants, and awards to the noblest profession in

ONLY ILOCOS NORTE AWARDEE . Dr. Joel Lopez with CSC Commissioner Aileen Lourdes Lizada and CSC regional director Hedy Jose B. Lardizabal. By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor Laoag City — “I’m thankful to God for I was the only awardee from Ilocos Norte in today’s awarding.” So said Dr. Joel B. Lopez, this city’s former schools division superintendent after receiving the Civil Service Commission’s Pagasa Regional Award on September 12, 2019 in San Fernando City, La Union. The CSC award was in line with the government agency’s 119 th anniversary commemorating the enactment of Public Law No. 5, “An Act for the Establishment and Maintenance of an Efficient and Honest Civil Service in the Philippine Islands”. Mr. Lopez is the only awardee from Ilocos Norte. The former Laoag education chief is recognized as one of this year's achiever in public service highlighting the “Talent Development Program cum Universal Backyard Camping”—a school-based activity that

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter INEC managers headed by general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos and members of the Board of Directors headed by board President Enrico Pacifico Ruiz receive numerous awards from NEA and Philreca during the 2019 NEA-EC-MCO's Convention on Rural Electrification held at PICC in Pasay City from August 6-9, 2019. (Photo courtesy of INEC) Dingras , Ilocos Norte—In celebration of the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) 50 th anniversary and the 2019 NEA-EC-MCO Convention on Rural Electrification held August 6-8 at PICC in Pasay City, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) received numerous major and minor awards from NEA and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) during the awarding ceremony. INEC general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos announced that the awards are results of the cooperative’s continuing service to its member-consumer-owners. INEC was recogni

Laoag City —For the sixth consecutive time, Provincial agriculturist Norma Lagmay and assistant agriculturist Dr. Luz Tabora of the Provincial Agriculture Office received their Outstanding Agricultural Extension Workers award from the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the 2019 National Rice Achievers Award held at a hotel, this city, on July 25, 2019. Dr. Tabora, one of the awardees and also the Provincial Rice Program Coordinator, expressed her joy on receiving the said award: “ Matagal nang nakilalahok ang probinsiya natin sa patimpalak ng DA— mula 2013 hanggang ngayon. Dito natin ipinakikita ang mga kontribusyon natin sa pagtamasa sa food security and self-sufficiency. Dahil dito, anim na beses na kaming pinaparangalan, kasama si Mrs. Lagmay,” she stated. Also included in the list of this year’s awardees from the Provincial Agriculture Office are Lorna Lubera, Lolita Raposas, and Danilo Arado. Mr. Arado is thankful to the Provincial Government and remarked,

The Philippine National Bank Northern Luzon 2 (NOL 2), under the leadership of Area Head Jeffrey C. Querubin, reaped awards during the Gabi ng Parangal of the PNB Retail Banking Sector Midyear Awards. NOL 2 received the following recognitions: Best in CASA Class A, Bangued, Abra-Main; Top OFW SA Performer Class A, 1 st  runner up, Bangued, Abra - Main; Top OFW SA Performer Class A, 2 nd  runner up, Vigan City – Florentino; and Top OFW SA Performer Class C, 1 st  runner up, Ilocos Norte – Pasuquin. From left: Area Head Querubin; Branch Head Emily Ganalon (Bangued); Branch Head Maria Goretti V. Guerrero (Pasuquin); and Branch Head Geraldine Soria (Vigan). (Jopo Guerrero)

  101. Laoag  Mayor Michael M. Keon hands over checks worth PHP100,000 each to centenarian awardees Encarnacion Basilio-Quitola, 101 years old of Barangay 1; and Remedios Pastor-Ramos, also 101 of Barangay 54-A, both in Laoag City. Mr. Keon handed over the check from DSWD on July 8, 2019 at the Laoag City Hall. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city government here honored two centenarians with plaques of recognition and PHP100,000 in check. New Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon personally handed the checks to the two centenarians on July 8, 2019 at the Laoag City Hall. The first centenarian awardee is Encarnacion Basilio-Quitola, 101 years old and the wife of the late Domingo Quitola. Mrs. Quitola in her early years was a laundrywoman and her late husband was a farmer. The Quitola couple, who hails from Barangay 1, this city was blessed with eight children, 51 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. According to Mrs.

  Laoag City— Representing the Municipality of Sarrat, Precious Olay Neyra, 21, was crowned Miss Ilocos Norte 2019, besting 22 other ladies from all the cities and municipalities of the province in a well-attended coronation night, May 8 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City. Ms. Neyra, a Sociology student at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, also bagged the Sirib Award, as she proved her wit in a series of interviews conducted days before the pageant. In the final Q&A, Neyra was asked, “What is your dream for Ilocos Norte?” to which she answered fluently: “My dream is for us to be continuously be on the top spot for tourism in the Philippines. “I am going to do this by utilizing modern tools, such as social media, to showcase our beloved province and to tell people that we are unique not only because of our infrastructures and our heritage sites but also because of our people—the Ilocanas and the Ilocanos.” Ms. Neyra will be the prov

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Burgos , Ilocos Norte—Fire volunteers from Brgy. Poblacion in this town will represent the province in the National Fire Olympics as they emerged as champion under the Barangay Category in the recently concluded Regional Fire Olympics in La Union on April 30, 2019. Composed of 14 participants including their coach and team leader, the Poblacion fire brigade also won in major awards such as Best in Bucket Relay and Best in Fire Extinguishment. Participated in by the four provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, it is the first time an Ilocos Norte barangay representative won the overall championship. The 6 th Regional Fire Olympics aims to build camaraderie among fire brigade and volunteers and to select representatives in the National Fire Olympics on March 2020. “We are so much grateful to God for this award. Thank you to all of you who gave us inspiration, support, trust and prayers,” said B

SUNSHINE  Women 2019 Solo Mother Category awardee Mrs. Aurora Bueno (center) together with her family members pose with Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas and several city councilors. (Photo by Alwin Formantes) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff reporter Laoag City —Fourteen Laoag City women were recognized and awarded as the LC Sunshine Women 2019 in a program held at the at the city hall multi-purpose hall on March 25, 2019. The awardees were chosen based on their moral and security integrity; significant accomplishments in their family, participation in church, barangay and community activities; personality traits and volunteerism and civic actions. DSWD officer III Mary Joan Pasigui said that the award has five categories. The Professional Category awardees were Mitchie Delos Santos, Zenaida Eugenio and Atty. Monique and Veronica Nevalga (Finalist) while the Non-Professional Category featured Mary Ann Cabacugan, Eva Dela Rosa, Ednah Marie Bernardino and Grace

  AMELIA  Bautista of Bagnos Multi-Purpose Cooperative receives the national awards of Bagnos from Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Vic M. Ines. The cooperative was awarded as 2018 Most Progressive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization and Highest Grade in IT-Enabled Maturity Assessment. (Rommel R. Aquino photo) In 2000, the Bagnos Multipurpose Cooperative in Barangay Binacag, Banna, Ilocos Norte was in shambles. Of its remaining 39 members, only 12 were active. The capital for its consumer store, its sole business then, was down to a few thousand pesos. Nobody had the time to initiate a move to resuscitate it. The men were too busy working in the fields, while the women confined themselves with their household chores. Ironically, this cooperative called “bagnos”, an Iluko term for “guiding light”, was left without a direction, a lost cause. But this situation changed when a woman decided to stand up—a decision that turned the coopera

The teacher portrays different roles to students—as parent, disciplinarian, sibling, friend, or an idol. These are the faces from whom inspiration can be drawn by the youth and help shape the character of students willing to learn. Teachers, who have made a significant difference in the lives of students, deserve to be recognized. Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BFFI), with the support of Diwa Learning Systems Inc. (Diwa) searches the nation afresh for exceptional teachers who have made outstanding contributions in their profession with “The Many Faces of the Teacher” program. For 17 years, the program has celebrated educators who have molded the character and built the capabilities of future leaders. This 2019, “The Many Faces of the Teacher” continues its search to give Filipino teachers a bigger voice to be heard. The search is open to educators of all ages who are actively teaching in private or public, elementary or secondary schools, colleges, and universities. The no

Mujeres  2019 Winners! (from left) 2nd runner up Marsh Clooney Agcaoili; Mujeres SK Ivy Pascual; Mujeres Laoag City 2019 Kyle Ranada; Mujeres ABC Kimper Corpuz; and Mujeres 1st runner up- Justine Lenin Silvestre. The first transgender woman in Congress Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1 st  District) served as the crowning guest. The coronation was held at the LC multi-purpose hall on February 18, 2019 as part of the Pamulinawen Festival 2019. (Doms dela Cruz)