The Ilocos Times

(PGIN photo) Laoag City —With an eye out for discovering and developing the next Teofilo Yldefonso, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) plans to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa City to open a new swimming school at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium here. The MOA is primarily the PGIN’s bid to improve athletic development in the province. Mr. Yldefonso was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an Olympic medal. He was born in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, in 1903, and went on to win two bronze medals at the 1928 and 1932 Olympic Games. He introduced the modern breaststroke and garnered a total of 144 medals from 1921-1937. He died in 1942, during World War II. The MOA will facilitate a partnership between the PGIN, represented by Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, and the DLSZ administration. DLSZ offers summer sports and arts programs, with swimming

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Hundreds of local police and representatives both from public and private organizations in the entire province of Ilocos Norte and neighboring provinces gathered at the Camp Valentin S. Juan, Laoag City on early morning of June 23, 2018 as they ran along the major streets here promoting peace and wellness. Now on its fourth year, the “Run for Peace 2018” continues to attract a community of peace and wellness advocates mostly from Laoag and the different towns of Ilocos Norte. Aside from keeping you fit and feeling younger every time you run the distance, a Laoag-based lady marathoner Fanny Miguel, 27 said, “It gives you a different feeling and a sense of accomplishment. It is also more fun when run with friends and running buddies.” Placing third under the female category for 5K finishers, Ms. Miguel added, “it is just a bonus when you receive a medal.” Organized by the First Ilocos Norte Mobile Force Co

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—The state-run Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City is set to host the Association of State Universities and Colleges-Solid North (ASCU-SN) summer Olympics slated next year. With MMSU President Shirley Agrupis as the newly-elected ASCU-SN vice president, she said the premiere university of the north is more than ready to host the event. Ms. Agrupis is also set to take over as ASCU-SN president upon the end of the term of the current ASCU President Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang of Kalinga State University. ASCU-SN is composed of 23 state universities and colleges in Regions I, II, III, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. In time for the on-going ASCU-SN Summer Olympics at the Benguet State University in  La Trinidad, Benguet held June 18-21 , the member state universities and colleges unanimously voted for MMSU as host and venue for next year’s summer Olympics on June 19-21. This year, about 93 athletes

By Anne Hazel F. Flores PIA SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—With the aim of promoting gender awareness development, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) regional office staged the 1st all-female regional fire Olympics on April 19 and 20, 2018 at the Poro Point Baywalk. The BFP Region 1 office grouped the 75 female contenders into five teams according to their agency’s offices and competed for the championship trophy. The female competitors showed and proved that they are also capable of doing a man’s job as a fireman as they competed in games patterned after the actual work of firefighters. “Through the years, women have indeed proven that they are no longer the weaker sex but as strong as their male counterparts,” BFP regional director F/Sr. Supt. Maria Sofia B. Mendoza said. She added: “A lot of women have excelled in different fields but now in the fire service, an organization dominated by men, we women firefighters are empowered because we have been given an equ

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Paoay , Ilocos Norte—Famous for its dragon boat festival, the Peoples Republic of China donated two units of dragon boats to the local government unit of Paoay in support of its growing water sports activities at the legendary Paoay Lake here. Dragon boat race has become popular at the 87-hectare Paoay Lake Natural Park since its inception last year when the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation in partnership with the municipal government here organized the first-ever dragon boat clinic in the province to promote paddling sport to the younger generation. With young individuals, mostly students aged nine years old and above lured into this sports program, Paoay mayor Jessie Galano said the new dragon boats donated by the Chinese government through the Chinese Consulate Center based in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte “will go a long way for the training of young athletes.” “We are thankful for the donation of two uni

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY–More than a hundred athletes from Ilocos Norte are set to join other athletes from Region 1 in the Palarong Pambansa 2018 in Ilocos Sur. Of the 101 athletes, at least 20 captured athletes came from other divisions in Ilocos Norte , said Gene Reginaldo, education program supervisor of the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte. They are set to represent Region 1 in athletics, baseball, gymnastics, tennis, baseball, chess, taekwondo, football and swimming. According to Mr. Reginaldo, the Ilocos Norte athletes will be in Vigan starting April 6 for their week-long training prior to the national sporting event set on April 15-21 at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. To date, Ilocos Norte education officials billeted these athletes at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium in Laoag City for their training with local coaches. With 14 schools divisions, Region 1 is composed of four