The Ilocos Times

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Batac City —The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is embarking on a new movement which aims to inspire farmers on becoming a millionaire is possible in agriculture. Leading the way in this rural transformation movement, Dr. Ronan Zagado of PhilRice Central Experiment Station (CES) said having the right mix of strategies and practices would ensure farmers they can make it big in farming. Attended by over a hundred farmers, researchers,   extension workers, teachers and students from the Ilocos region including its neighboring provinces in Cagayan and Apayao, a briefing on the rural transformation movement is being conducted at the PhilRice auditorium today to help farmers achieve this goal: to achieve at least P1 million gross income per hectare per year. According to Dr. Zagado, PhilRice has developed a wide range of technologies and production models to increase the yield of farmers and at the same time convert this

By Joel M. Remigio Contributor Every other delegation dreamt of wresting the title and grab the overall championship crown. Many wished to feel the overwhelming feel of victory. But no one—big or small division—was able to dethrone the Laoag City division in Region I’s campus journalism tilt. The Laoag City division has stamped its class for the third consecutive year as it again emerged overall champion in the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) at St, Paul College in Bantay, Ilocos Sur held December 8-10 both in individual and group category. On their way to the title, the division bested 13 other divisions. Laoag City emerged as champion in the secondary level and first runner-up for the elementary level with total points of 201. The Pangasinan II division placed second with 170 points; Dagupan City Division garnered 137 points and San Fernando City Division, 114 points as second and third runners-up respectively; while, the divisions of I

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified police operations all over the region to ensure security and safety of its constituents during and after the Christmas and New Year’s celebration. Ilocos Norte police provincial director P/Sr. Supt. Antonio Mendoza said the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office has started its aggressive campaign against illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to ensure zero casualty during the merry-making activities. In a related development, the PNP regional office reiterated its serious effort to go after the illegal retailers/sellers of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics and be vigilant against those who do not comply with safety guidelines. “I am directing all field commanders to strictly implement the provisions of RA7183 (An Act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices) and to intensify the conduct of securi

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City— Save Philippine Seas (SPS), in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Manila, is looking for young leaders who are 18 to 23 years old and passionate about marine conservation to participate in SEA (Sea and Earth Advocates) Camp in 2015. Anna Helen Yap, social media and communications officer of SPS said the SEA Camp aims to give young people a platform to play bigger roles in conservation. There will be three regional camps: one in Luzon (Batangas) on April 15-21, Visayas (Negros Oriental) on April 27-May 3, and Mindanao (Tawi-Tawi) on May 9-May 15. The national culminating camp will be in Palawan on June 10-14. SEA Camp: Empowering youth as leaders in conservation The Philippines is recognized as the “center of the center of marine biodiversity” in the world, being home to about 300 species of coral and nearly 60 % of the world's known shore fish. Many of these are threatened or endangered due to  overfishing, dest

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter Laoag City —About 1,473 workers from the different municipalities of Ilocos Norte received their cash incentives as the Ilocos Norte government continue to distribute its cash-for-work program. On December 9, a team from the Capitol Express led by Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos started distributing cash incentives for those who rendered work during the “ Oplan Pakni” , a local cash for work program of the Marcos administration for Ilocanos who were hit by typhoon Mario and those living in high dengue-risk barangays of Ilocos Norte. Eric Pascua, Provincial Investment Office head said a total of 1,473 workers from the different municipalities here employed to help in the cleaning brigade during the aftermath of typhoon Mario. “The  Oplan Pakni  aims to respond to the economic impact of the typhoon and to address sanitation issues due to debris and stagnant water,” Mr. Pascua explained. As the year ends, Mana

Kararaglikas iti Paskua Dawatek Jesusko Ituloymo a pasin-awen ti pusokararua ken konsensia dagiti gagayyem a kas met  kaniak Ituloynak a patibkeren iti pammati iti sao ken aramid Dimo kadi ipalubos a sinaanka tapno saanak a mayaw-awan iti pannagnak iti inaldaw kasta koma met kadakuada Saan kadi iti kapautko a rukodennak ngem dagiti kalidad ti aramidko a patalgedannak iti sabali pay a gundaway Sika ti Alpha ken Omega no maikariak nga agnaed iti nagbaetan dagitoy iti nasin-aw a Silaw ngamin Sika a Dalan ti Biag ken ti Mannubbot ti Emmanuel: adtoy ti pusok sipapakurang a daton iti amin nga aldaw uray ania a darikmat iti Intedmo nga anges iti aldaw ken rabii Ipangpangrunak a yebkas Kenka ti di agressat a panagyaman ken pammigbig iti Kinaasinom ita a Paskua:Sagut ! Amado I. Yoro

WE have just ended a liturgical year with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Christ the King. We are now beginning a new one with the season of Advent, the proximate preparation for the birth of Christ. The immediate thought that comes to mind in this transition of the old and new liturgical years is that while we should have the mind of ending well and also beginning well, we should neither forget that this cycle of life is meant to catapult us to the eternal life where there will be no more changes of seasons and shifts of days and nights. In eternity, there will be no more past nor future. Everything will be in the present, with everything either resolved properly in the bliss of heaven or unresolved in the never-ending pain and anguish in hell. It would be good if we have a deep understanding of the significance of the whole liturgical year, so that we can have a functional sense of purpose and direction as we go through it, avoiding getting entangled, distracted