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Another dolphin beached at Badoc shoreline

Trained responders carry a stranded dolphin to a temporary rehabilitation center near the shoreline of Gabut Norte, Badoc, Ilocos Norte By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter BADOC, Ilocos Norte —A female sub adult spinner dolphin was found in distress along the shore of Gabut Sur village here, making it the third of this kind stranded spotted by coastal residents since January. At about 4:30pm on February 13, provincial fishery regulatory coordinator Arthur Valente of the Provincial Agriculture Office received a report from local authorities that a dolphin was stranded in the coastal village of Badoc town. Ilocos Norte’s coastal municipalities from the gateway of Badoc to the northernmost town of Pagudpud have been a frequent site of marine mammal stranding, making it one of the considered hot spots based on the high number of reported strandings next to Central Luzon (III), Region V and Central Visayas (Region VII).   Responders try to feed a stranded d

Ilocano writers ask DepEd secretary to stop controversial Iluko orthography

By Reynaldo E. Andres Contributor Ilocano writers in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan Valley have asked Department of Education Sec. Armin Luistro to stop the teaching in the elementary grades of the questionable Ilocano Orthography written by Dr. Joel Lopez, a DepEd official in Ilocos Norte. In an emergency meeting held February 8 at the Cagayan State University (CSU) in Gonzaga, Cagayan, officers and members of the Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas (Ilocano Writers’ Association of the Philippines), or GUMIL Filipinas, assailed the issuance of the Kautusang Pangkagawaran Blg. 34, Serye 2013 which is the Ortograpiyang Pambansa by the DepEd. The Order gave Lopez the excuse to change some portions of the Ilokano orthography already on file with the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF), specifically on the way Ilocano writers write diphthongs and pronominal adjective. Lopez is in charge of the DepEd’s MTB-MLE program in Ilocos Norte. GUMIL Filipinas is an instituti

Legarda: Time to climate-proof energy sector

Prioritize renewable energy dev’t Senator Loren Legarda renewed her call for more investments in renewable energy as part of a long-term solution to the growing power needs of the country and to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation and climate change. Legarda, the United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, made the call at the Clean Technology Congress 2014 organized by ThomasLloyd in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.  “The aftermath of Haiyan was an eye-opener for us Filipinos. The devastation it caused made us realize that we need to climate- and disaster-proof our energy sector,” Legarda said. Typhoon Haiyan left more than 6,000 dead and nearly 2,000 missing. Damages and losses are estimated at P571.1 billion (equivalent to USD 12.9 billion). Legarda, co-author and co-sponsor of the Philippine Renewable Energy Law, noted that the Philippines has already established a legal framework that provides

NYC: Results of youth sex study very alarming

Calls for urgent interventions “ We are in a crisis situation and so much is at stake.” This was the reaction of National Youth Commission (NYC) to the results of the latest nation-wide Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 4). "The spike in unprotected early sexual encounter and teen pregnancy has reached a very alarming point. Immediate and aggressive measures must be taken to address the worsening situation," NYC Commissioner Perci Cendaña said. According to YAFS 4, the incidence of sex before marriage or early sexual encounter among Filipino youth increased from 23% in 2002 to 32% in the 2013, 78% of which were unprotected.  Also from the same study, within this past decade, teenage pregnancy among 15-19 year-old girls more than doubled from 6% to 14%. Cendaña, however, cautioned the public from demonizing the youth because of their risky behaviors. " Huwag naman sanang sisihin na lang lagi ang mga kabataan para sa nangyayari sa kanila. Hi

Pamulinawen Festival 2014

The Ilocos Times Feb. 17-23, 2014

Tan-ok ni who?

The Tan-ok ni Ilocano (mini version) Dance Showdown was held tonight [Feb. 15, 2014] at a half-full Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena. “Mini” because, unlike the full version held last December, the number of dancers are limited (only 12-16), performance time is shorter (3-4 minutes), and props are simpler and smaller. The show is also less budgeted. The idea is to form groups that can be feasibly booked for events, including national and international gatherings held here in Ilocos Norte. All the 21 municipalities and two cities were expected to showcase their rich culture through dance. “Tan-ok” means great, so the contingents were tasked to highlight what their respective peoples and places are proud of and known for. All the contingents accomplished that, except one: the champion. Laoag City’s routine, no doubt, was most entertaining. Thanks to top-caliber choreographer Christian Espiritu—whose talent I personally admire; and who we here in The Ilocos