The Ilocos Times

By Noralyn Dudt Conclusion The Augustinian friars   must have been a very dedicated group of apostles. Such dedication is exhibited in the   still standing churches of the Ilocos region. The friars would build a church in one town and then use that as a center for evangelization of the surrounding area.   Visitas or peripheral missions they were called. The church in Bacarra was such a center --to reach the most   northwestern tip of Luzon Island : Bangui, Burgos,   Vintar. Pasuquin, Adang ( the current Adams) Banban ( now a barrio of Bangui) and Vera ( its new name unknown). The Batac church served as the center of the Visita to Dingras and Paoay. While the San Agustin Church in Paoay has been completely rebuilt and had made it to the World Heritage List,   it took some time to convince and motivate others to help with renovating the seriously-damaged   St. Joseph Church of Dingras. My good friend and former dorm mate Evita Castro de Alban wrot...

By Leilanie G. Adriano  (Staff Reporter) LAOAG CITY–Army Brig. Gen. Audrey L. Pasia, the commander of the army’s 702 nd Infantry Brigade in the Ilocos Region urged all sectors of the community including government workers to be more discerning with the so-called “long-time virus” which is deadlier which is deadlier than the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In time for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) 52 nd anniversary on March 29, 2021, Pasia said the insurgency issue has continuously infected various sectors and the government sector is no excuse. "All sectors—including government employees, media, church, professionals, and laborers among others have already been targets. So please, let us all be discerning. We may not know it, but they may already be in government that is bent on destroying us,” he said in a virtual presser on March 29, 2021. Out of the 12 identified municipalities in Ilocos Sur that were earlier reported to b...

Laoag City —“When we discuss tourism, it's not the economy and visitors but more so the families and livelihoods that rely on this powerhouse of an industry. Let us make sure that we prioritize the people behind this dear industry and make sure that they are the ones that benefit the most from this reopening." Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc urged during the launching of the “Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor” at the Baguio Convention Center on September 22, 2020. National and regional tourism chiefs, Region I local chief executives, heads of tourism councils, and presidents of tourism organizations spearheaded the "Ridge and Reef" launch, alongside presenting available itineraries and local products. Meanwhile, the Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, reiterated that the previous memorandum of agreement signing aimed to foster the establishment of green lanes for tourists and promote safe travel and seamless interconnectivity of land voyage,...

  Laoag City —Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc has committed to the opening of the "Northern Luzon Tourism Corridor," an initiative of chief executives and tourism councils in Northern Luzon to cushion the impact of COVID-19 across tourism industries. Preparing for the resumption of tourism by rolling out a rehabilitation plan, the provincial governments of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, and the city government of Baguio have collaborated to prioritize the livelihood rehabilitation of their constituents while guaranteeing the overall safety of tourists and spurring again tourism-related economic activities.   "We started discussing the 'Tourism Bubble' concept together with 'the Department of Tourism (DOT) and counterparts in Region I and Baguio City, as well as other tourism officers in the country because at that time, very early in May,   there was no clear reference about how to address the impact of the pandemic,...

Laoag City —In the time for the Environment Month Celebration, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte's (PGIN) Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) held the groundbreaking of paminta (black pepper) and moringa Plantation at Brgy. Davila, Pasuquin on June 18, 2020. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc led the groundbreaking ceremony, saying: “We are all healing this calamity in many different ways but I am heart-warm that on this sunny day under many trees, we come together and celebrate our Environment Month.” Nineteen hectares of public land at Brgy. Davila is being used for the planting of paminta seedlings and moringa stem cuttings. Through a memorandum of agreement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allowed the Provincial Government to develop the area. “We commit and revitalize our dedication to our environment. Kilala tayo bilang ‘Renewable Energy Capital’ [of Southeast Asia]. We are known as the very ‘Green Province’ and I k...

City of San Fernando , La Union—The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare 1 (OWWA RWOI) has started releasing cash assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the temporary travel ban in mainland China, Hongkong and Macao due to the Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease or 2019-nCoV ARD outbreak. The said cash assistance given to the affected OFWs was an immediate response of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and OWWA to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to ease and lessen the burden of the would-be departing OFWs after the government has imposed the travel ban. OFWs in Ilocos Region affected by the travel ban are encouraged to visit the nearest OWWA RWOI Satellite Office in their provinces or at the Regional Office to inquire about the cash relief assistance. OFWs from nearby regions are also welcome at OWWA RWOI for their convenience. All documented OFWs, newly-hired or Balik-Manggawa, affected by the ban are c...

Chinese Consul and Head of Post to Laoag Mr. Zhou Youbin and wife Mrs. Li Jia pose with  The Ilocos Times ’ Jay Ramos, Herdy Yumul and Mitch T. Esmino. During the Chinese Spring Festival celebration at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel. (Contributed photo) By Bernardo B. Ver II Contributor LAOAG CITY—To mark the Chinese New Year celebrations, Chinese Consul and Head of Post to Laoag Mr. Zhou Youbin and wife Mrs. Li Jia hosted on January 19, 2020 the Spring Festival dinner at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel with over 300 guests representing key sectors from the Philippine Northern provinces in attendance. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday in China. Two features distinguish it from the other festivals; it sees off the old year and greets the new; it is also the time for families to be reunited. Among the notable guests were former Ilocos Governor and current Narvacan Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson, Quirino Governor Dakil...

Cruise passengers arrive at the Ilocos (Salomague) Port in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. (DOT Laoag sub-office photo) By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter Currimao , Ilocos Norte—The international seaport of Currimao welcomed another cruise ship on January 6,2019. According to Xavier Ruiz, tourism operations officer in Ilocos Norte said MV The World, with 160 passengers departed from Hongkong and docked near the at the Currimao seaport on January 6, 2020. Part of the passengers’ itinerary was to visit various cultural heritage sites in the province such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Augustine Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte and the wonder city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur. On the same day, the MV Royal Caribbean which is bigger than the MV The World also returned at the Salomague Port in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur with thousands of passengers, mostly from China and the United States of America. Last year, the Royal Caribbean made a stop at the international seapor...

The induction of the newly elected Philippine Councilors League (PCL) 2019 Regional Council Officers was recently held wherein Laoag councilor Handy T. Lao was elected as regional secretary general (3 rd  from right) and Ilocos Norte councilors Jonathan Toralba, Zaida Hershey Mandac and Mel Lawrence Coloma were elected as regional council directors. Regional chairperson is Ramon C. Ortega, vice chairperson Carol Sison, treasurer Tanya Roberta De Guzman, auditor Orlando Cabang, PIO Michael Fernandez, and council directors Restituto Dandasan, Aileen Acal, Antonio Perez, Ramon Bautista Jr. Dennis Canto and Maria Rosario Eufrosina Nisce. (Doms dela Cruz)

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 su...

San Fernando City , La Union—The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) recently concluded the regional selection and awarding of the 2019 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) wherein two families were named as this year’s Region 1 Model OFW Families. The awarding ceremony took place on October 3, 2019 in this city. During the awarding ceremony the family of OFW Pacita Calano Gorgonio of Dingras, Ilocos Norte for the land-based category while OFW Rey Gerdan Biteng and Family of Sta. Cruz Ilocos Sur for the sea-based, were declared as winners. Both families will be representing Ilocos Region in the MOFYA National Awarding to be held on December 5, 2019 at the Malacañang Palace. A total of five families were nominated for this year’s regional MOFYA, three for the land-based category and two for the sea-based category. Aside from the two winners, the other nominees were Jeffrey Dungca Javier and Family of Bangar, La Union who was awa...

(Clockwise) Group pictures of MDOs from Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Norte. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I gathered the Migrant Desk Officers (MDO) of Ilocos Region in the recently conducted 2 nd Regional MDO Congress held September 11-13, 2019 in Baguio City.   Centered on the theme , “MDOs as Catalysts of Change towards Migration and Development” , the activity aims to convene MDOs and enlighten and further hone their knowledge on migration and development as key personnel in their respective LGUs in promoting awareness on those topics that will pave way for better opportunities in their LGUs. The activity was divided into two activities—the seminar proper and the awards night, which highlighted the event. Guests, visitors and   officers who graced the opening ceremonies were Dir. Rosalia Susana S. Bahia-Catapang of OWWA’s Program and Policy Development Division (PPDD); Dir. Manuela N. Pena of OW...

  MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis (seated, center) and PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza (seated, right) sign the memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Economic Zone Institute in Region I which will help promote export-oriented investments and increase productivity and income in the countryside. (Photo courtesy of MMSU-OP) By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor BATAC City —The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in this city and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have agreed to establish a Special Economic Zone Institute in Region I, which will help promote export-oriented investments and increase productivity and income in the countryside. A memorandum of understanding was formally signed on September 25, 2019 at the Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila between MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza. Dr. Agrupis said MMSU is the only state university in the Ilocos region which shall...

OFC leaders and members from Ilocos Norte (blue shirt), Ilocos Sur (red shirt), La Union (pink shirt) and Pangasinan (yellow shirt) join in the celebration of 24 th  Migrant Worker’s Day on June 7, 2019 at Fr. Burgos Gymnasium, Saint Louis College, San Fernando City, La Union. (OWWA) San Fernando City , La Union—The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office I (OWWA RWOI) recently celebrated the 24 th Migrant Workers’ Day or Araw ng Pasasalamat on June 7, 2019 at Saint Louis College in this city. More than 600 OFWs and dependents from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan participated in the event. As one of OWWA’s institutional events and as a tribute to all the migrant workers, OWWA RWOI made sure that this year’s celebration will be successful with the theme, “Salamat sa tapang, sipag at pagmamahal mo, Kabayan”. The activity started with a thanksgiving mass officiated by Fr. Romeo Aquino Jr., CICM held at the Transfigurat...