The Ilocos Times

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...

  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)

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...

City of Batac —The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) officially opened its Adolescent Friendly Health Facility (AFHF)—a space specially designed for young people to feel seen, heard, and cared for. The inauguration was conducted by the Department of Pediatrics, headed by AFHF program manager, Dr. Raymond Jerry V. Baguio, under the leadership of medical center chief Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza. In her opening remarks, Dr. Otayza stated, “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦—𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴”. The event was also graced by the presence of two of the most respected figures in adolescent medicine: Dr. Ma. Emma Llanto, a trailblazer in the field and current Vice President of the International Association of Adolescent Health for East A...

It was in the living room of the two sisters Rachel and Ruth Rubio in Scarborough when the idea of forming an association of Bataqueños in Canada emerged. The small gathering of Batac expats   discussed    the possibility and agreed to proceed with the idea. Thus, among the attendees of a birthday celebration, the Annak ti Batac Association of Canada was born. “Bayanihan”, a unique aspect of Filipino culture   is a beautiful   tradition that embodies the spirit of community and cooperation. It's all about people coming together to work on a common goal. It is making a conscious effort to give one's time, energy, and resources to support a cause greater than one's own benefit. Deeply-rooted in Filipino society, this trait contributes to the strong sense of community that the Philippine Islands are known for. The  three  ladies: the Rubio sisters, Rachel and Ruth with Noralyn Dudt Ruth Rubio arrived in Canada in 1968 and worked in the Canadian ...

1st INABEL provincial winners announced The winners of the newly launched Ilocos Norte Award for Barangays Excellence in Legislation (INABEL) are given their awards during the Ilocos Norte Liga ng Mga Barangays (LnB) provincial congress 2025 held March 21-23, 2025 in Nasugbu, Batangas. They are: Brgy. 1 San Lorenzo Laoag City (City Category); Brgy. 11 San Fernando, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte (1st-3rd Class Municipal Category), and Brgy.  Caparispisan, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte (4th-5th Class Municipal Category). [ Photos courtesy of LnB Ilocos Norte] By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nasugbu , Batangas—A total of 652 barangay officials from the entire Ilocos Norte participated in the Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LMB) Ilocos Norte Chapter provincial congress 2025 with the   theme: “Barangay Leaders Empowerment for the Nation’s Sustainable Growth and Development’’ held March 21-25, 2025 at Forest Crest Resort and Hotel in Nasugbu, Batangas. LnB Provincial President and...

Champion  pole vaulter EJ Obiena guides a young athlete during the opening of the pole-vaulting facility at the FEM Memorial Stadium. Laoag City —Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” U. Obiena and Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc opened Ilocos Norte’s first pole vaulting facility at the Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium, on No. 22, 2024, a step forward in transforming the Philippines into a global force in pole vaulting. Obiena, a world-class Filipino pole vaulter is currently ranked third in the 2024 World Athletics Rankings for the men’s pole vault category. He finished fourth place in the same sport at the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France, barely missing a medal. He is also the first Asian athlete to conquer the six-meter mark at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway in 2023. Aside from this, Obiena is also a three-time Southeast Asian Games champion. He also bagged the gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games, becoming the first Filipino gold medalist ...

Surgical setup at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. The surgeon is performing total hip replacement and is assisted by a surgical resident and a scrub nurse. The hospital can cater up to 5 cases per day, a testament to its mission of being a premiere center of excellence in healthcare in Ilocos region. By Michael Sylvestre A. Saturnino City of Batac —The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) in Ilocos Norte is a beacon of hope for patients suffering from the effects of severe knee osteoarthritis and hip osteoarthritis or fractures. Through the invaluable leadership of Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, medical center chief, and Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, chief of medical professional staff and the financial support from the office of Ilocos Norte first district Congressman Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, the hospital conducted a life-changing hip and knee replacement mission, providing essential surgical care to those who otherwise may no...

  CLARK AIR BASE built in 1903, was a US military base in Central Luzon. It was known as Fort Stotsenburg when it  was first established as a US military camp for the 5th Cavalry after the Spanish-American War ( 1898). After the Second World War, it was renamed Clark Air Field after Major Harold M. Clark, a World War 1 pilot who was born in Minnesota and raised in Manila. The area covered an area of 12 square miles (30 square km).  The Clark family had a strong military tradition dating back to the Revolutionary War (late 1770s). His father fought Spanish forces in the Philippines while assigned to Company E, 13th Minnesota volunteer infantry during the Spanish-American War of 1898. The end of the Spanish-American War brought a period of growth and interest in the Philippines. In 1904, the Clarks moved to Manila, where they enjoyed considerable wealth and prestige due to the family's business ventures. After graduating from the American High School in Manila in 1910, Haro...

  Philippine  Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) staff share their disaster risk reduction and early warning systems to training participants. Manila —The United States Peace Corps, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently launched the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Toolkit, a comprehensive training guide designed to help Peace Corps volunteers and their partner communities build resilience by enhancing their disaster preparedness capability. The DRR Toolkit contains resources on developing disaster preparedness strategies, conducting risk assessments, managing community resources, and strengthening early warning systems.   As an inclusive training guide, the DRR Toolkit promotes the active participation of all community members in pre-disaster planning. From Oct. 14 to 18, 2024, the Peace Corps gathered 28 of its volunteers, staff, and work partners from the Philippine government and non-...