The Ilocos Times

Vows support for Alcid, Lao tandem President  Bongbong Marcos raises the hands of his chosen team for Laoag City for the May 2025 elections during Team Marcos Laoag’s kick-off rally on March 28, 2025. By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. was in this city to personally proclaim the Team Marcos candidates for Laoag, headed by Laoag Councilors James Bryan Alcid and Handy Lao, running for mayor and vice-mayor, respectively held in front of the Provincial Capitol on March 28, 2025. Thousands of people attended the proclamation started which started at 4 pm and lasted until midnight with showbiz personalities Lyka Estrella, Mandy Flores, Jayson Gainza, Pooh, Barbie Imperial, Richard Gutierez and the Magrus gracing the event. Alcid, in his speech, disclosed how he grew up in Laoag, a “true blooded Ilocano”, a loving and a family-oriented individual. In his platform of governance, Alcid proposed the allocation of fund ...

Solsona  Mayor Joseph E. de Lara (left) and former punong barangay and businessman Charles Curameng (right) gear for a possible mayoralty showdown in Solsona for the 2025 midterm elections. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Solsona , Ilocos Norte—Former punong barangay and businessman Charles Curameng is set to throw his hat into the mayoralty race against incumbent Solsona Mayor Joseph E. de Lara in the upcoming 2025 national and local midterm elections. Curameng formally announced his candidacy for mayor in a bid to continue his public service and helping his constituents not only in Brgy. Laureta but the whole town of Solsona With just one term as barangay head, Curameng admitted that he needs more knowledge in the field of public governance and he added that he is willing to learn. He stressed that he decided to run primarily to help the people who are in need and see some priority projects that need an immediate attention like the construction...

REELECTION BID. Ilocos Norte 1st Dist. Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos  files his certificate of candidacy for a second term at the Commission on Elections provincial office in this city on Oct. 7, 2024. (Leilanie Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, the eldest son of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., formalized his reelection bid with the filing of his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial office in this city on Oct. 7, 2024. He was accompanied by his parents, the President and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, along with his cousin, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, and other relatives and supporters who cheered for him upon arrival at the provincial Comelec office. His second term bid is expected to be unopposed after defeating former Ilocos Norte first district Rep. Ria Christina Fariñas. Backed by the current administration and the different mayors of Ilocos Nort...

Paolo Bediones By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff Reporter San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte—A member of the Marcos clan and a television personality has announced his intention to run for this town’s mayoralty post. Paolo Barba Bediones, a popular television host face the local media in this town saying he returned to San Nicolas to reactive his voter’s registration at the local Commission on Elections office as he has failed to vote the past two elections due to his work and to announce his plan to enter politics. The Ilocos Times learned that there was a time when the name “Bediones” was floated to run for office but it did not push through because, according to him he was not yet ready then. ‘ ’Kailangan po handa tayo hindi lamang po sa mental kundi ang buong pagkatao at kinailangan ko din ayusin at iyong mga puwedeng tapusin sa showbusiness dahil more than two decades din iyun at sa pagka broadcast journalist din. Nag aral din ako ng Masteral on Entrepreneurship at Asian Institu...

By Noralyn O. Dudt AMERICA's electoral system has long baffled the world. A relic of another time, the Electoral College distorts results of the presidential election and thwarts the will of the people. Hillary   Clinton received almost three million votes more than Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election but still lost. During the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush had fewer popular votes than Al Gore, but the electoral votes in Florida made Bush the winner.   There were three other occasions between 1960 and 1996—all because of an “antiquated” electoral process called the Electoral College.   Some experts have defended it, saying the process gives voice to less populated states. So, what is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is a process, not a place. It was created by the framers of the US Constitution as an alternative to electing the president by popular vote or by Congress. How to elect their president was among the thorny questions d...

By Joni C. Luis ( Correspondent) Pagudpud , Ilocos Norte—"Full, solid, 100 percent.” That is how Pagudpud Vice Mayor Matilde “Maja” H. Sales described her support for Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, who is running for the congressional seat of Ilocos Norte’s first district. Sales, who is aiming a return as Pagudpud mayor, said she believes that Marcos, with his educational background and exposure in Congress, is “ripe and ready” to represent the district. She added that having him as congressman will be very beneficial for the district, especially if his father, presidential frontliner Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., becomes the nation’s leader. “ Alam niyo naman, manipud idi , no matter what and against all odds, hindi talaga kami umaalis sa Marcos, kaya ikarigatanmi a tulungan isuna ,” said Sales who intimated that her association with the younger Marcos goes way back. Sandro himself has shared in previous media interviews that among his fondest memories grow...

Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano in an interview with the members of the media. ( Photo by Dulce Valenzuela) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Marcos , Ilocos Norte—" Awan kinagpayso na dayta nga agwarwaras ta iti kinapudno na ket kayat paylaeng dagiti appo nga kakailiak iti Marcos nga itul-tuloy ko iti pinagserbik kadakuada babaen ngata dagiti nagkaadu a makitkita da a pinag progreso ti ili mi ”. This was Marcos Mayor Antonio Mariano clarification on rumors that he will no longer run for re-election in next year’s elections as he will be going back to the United States for his family. The Ilocos Times learned that there are already some politicians eyeing the said mayoralty post, including his opponents in 2019 election and one of his present councilor. The mayor likewise said that his relationship with Marcos Vice Mayor Hilario Lorenzo is “okay in terms of work”. “ Dayta iti the big question mark no kayat nak to pay a kadwa wennu saanen ngem possible met a kadwa...

  Unveiling of the Malasakit Center By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY—A one-stop shop “Malasakit Center” for patients in need of medical and financial assistance is now open at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital, or more popularly known as the provincial hospital, to ensure that government health services should be accessible for all Filipinos. With an initial fund of PHP5 million, with the check personally turned over to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong" Go and his party who arrived in the city for the launching of the country’s 101 st “Malasakit Center”. “ Ang requirement lang po dito sa ‘Malasakit Center’ ay basta Pilipino ka. Walang pinipili ang center na ito ,” Go remarked. “ Kami po ay nandito upang makapagbigay ng kaunting tulong sa mga pasiente. At kung may pasiente kayo na hindi kayang operahan sa inyong hospital , willing kaming tumulong sa Maynila pati pamasahe ay sas...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The city’s Commission on Election (Comelec) office is now open for voter’s registration starting on September 1, 2020 onwards. The elections office is open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. City elections officer Atty. Julius Balbas announced that the filing of applications for registration start on Tuesdays thru Saturdays without satellite voter’s registration. He added that applicants must be 18 years old on or before May 2022 election period. He also stated that the elections office will also accept transfer and corrections of records application. Transferees should bring with them their identification cards or certification from their present barangay where they are staying; while new applicants should bring with them birth certificates and valid IDs. The elections officer also advised applicants to bring with them their application form, which they can download at www.comelec.gov.ph ; applicants, however should be fill out t...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —The city’s Commission on Elections office registered 3,350 new voters for the registration period of August 1, 2019 to September 31, 2019. Of the 3,350 new registrants, 2,664 are regular voters aged 18 and above, and included those who transferred from other locales, corrected voter’s information and reactivated voters. The remaining 686 new voters are those from 15-17 years old, or Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters. Laoag elections officer Atty. Julius Balbas said there was a good turn out during the two-month registration period. With this development, total Laoag City voters are now 78,500. Meanwhile, Mr. Balbas stressed that they have not received any communication from the Comelec central office whether there is a postponement of the barangay and SK elections. The local elections office however, is set to approve the new registrants on October 16, 2019 to formalize their registration.

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City —A councilor from this city and two from Batac City are set to square off for the Philippine Councilors League (PCL)-Ilocos Norte Chapter presidency. Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon officially announced Laoag councilor Handy T. Lao as his candidate in the PCL-Ilocos Norte chapter elections in September. Mr. Keon strongly believes that Mr. Lao deserves the position based on his experiences in the city council. Mr. Lao, meanwhile said he was surprised and did not expect Mr. Keon’s announcement. He thanked the Laoag mayor though for his support and promised to do his best in case he gets the chance to lead the local PCL chapter He added that leading the PCL in the province is one of his dreams as it would widen his horizon for he would then be serving the entire province and not just this city. Mr. Lao also mentioned that should he win, he will further promote tourism, agriculture and sports as his flagship prog...

By Dominic B. dela Cruz Staff Reporter Laoag City— With the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set on May 11, 2020, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here is urging all first-time voters in the city to register at the local Commission on Elections office. The council passed a resolution in pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10549 which declared the registration period from August 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019. For the barangay elections, new voters should be at least eighteen (18) years old and have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they will vote or at least six months of the preceding year.   On the other hand, any Filipino Citizen who is not yet a registered voter but will be turning 15 years old on May 11, 2019 and residing in the Barangay for at least six months on or before the election can now register for the purpose of SK elections. SK voters should be at least 15 years old on the date of the elections u...