The Ilocos Times

By Abraham V. Llera “Eight minutes , with 15 minutes as maximum,” according to Abp.  Malcom Ranjith who used to be the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship (CDW) of the Vatican.  “Eight minutes, the average time a listener can remain listening,” agrees Abp.  Nikola Eterovik, former Secretary General for the Synod of Bishops of the Roman Curia.  “Eight minutes,” agrees Fr. Andre Headon, vice rector of the Venerable English College in Rome which prepares men to become priests. “There’s a saying among clergy,” adds Fr Headon, “’If you haven’t struck oil in seven minutes, stop BORING.’” “It should be brief,” cautions #138 of Evangelii Gaudium, and should not be “a form of entertainment,” [emphasis mine] as many priests, it seems, take it to be.  If the homily goes too long, e.g., 45 minutes, it disturbs two characteristic elements of the liturgical celebration:  its balance and rhythm,” reminds Evangelii Gaudium.  This means that “the words of the preacher must be me

The Supreme Court has spoken. And even if there are others who do not agree with the High Tribunal’s decision, it will remain so—unless the SC reverses itself.   Finally, after 27 years, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos will be laid to rest—at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, no less. True enough, Martial Law victims have not taken the decision well. And what was being touted about as the “ultimate act of reconciliation” between the “red” and “yellow” forces—and everything else in between—is both proving to be off the mark and thoroughly wrong. Judging from posts in social media, the Marcos loyalists are not quite magnanimous with their court victory. Something that can also be said to those on the other side of the ultimate political divide in the country; for they have been protesting endlessly against the burial of the late president at the heroes’ cemetery. True enough, Mr. Marcos’ burial at a place considered as “hallowed ground” is indeed a closure for

United States Secretary of State John Kerry swore in Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim in a ceremony attended by Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, former U.S. Ambassadors to the Philippines Counselor Kristie A. Kenney and Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Assistant Secretary of State Danny Russel, Philippine Chargé d'Affaires to the United States Patrick A. Chuasoto, and friends from the Embassy of the Philippines and the greater Filipino American community.  Ambassador-designate Kim was joined by his family. Mr. Kerry began the ceremony by underlining the history and the people-to-people ties that have built the “indelible” relationship between the United States and the Philippines, reiterating that “the United States continues to place a high value on the close ties that exist between our countries.”  In introducing Ambassador-designate Kim, Mr. Kerry described him as one of the U.S. Department of State’s finest diplomats: “Over the years, Sung has won

  Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos greets students and their parents after her SOPA. (Alaric Yanos) In order to provide immediate recovery to families affected by super typhoon ‘Lawin,’ the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) will give ₱ 5,000 financial assistance to private college students. According to James Ceasar Ventura, Ilocos Norte Youth Office (INYO) director, around 5,000 slots are open for those who want to avail of the ‘Asikaso ni Manang Imee Tuition-for-work Program.’ “Governor Imee Marcos and the provincial government continue providing support to Ilocano students who were affected by super typhoon ‘Lawin’ especially those who are children of farmers and fisher folks,” he explained. Mr. Ventura said the “Asikaso ni Manang Imee Tuition-for-work Program” aims to encourage students to continue their studies, even if their properties and livelihoods were damaged, instead of dropping out from school. He added that the program prioritized privat

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Supertyphoon “Lawin” [international name Haima] barreled through Ilocos region last month, and among those battered were mango trees that were due for harvest this month. Ricardo Tolentino, popularly known as Ilocos Norte’s “mango king” reported the mango growers’ association here were totally devastated seeing their mango trees swayed by strong winds, fallen branches and some were even uprooted at the height of the typhoon. The Ilocos region which includes the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan is one of the country’s major exporter of quality mangoes to Hong Kong, Japan and other neighboring Southeast Asian nations.  According to Mr. Tolentino, the estimated damages could account to more than ₱ 100 million as most of the growers heavily invested this year on power spray and in rehabilitation their mango trees. As a high value commercial crop in the province, the provincial government c

Publication Notice R.A. 10172 NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC CCCE – 96-2016 R.A. 10172 November 7, 2016           In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A. 10172) Notice is hereby served to the public that REAN JOY BANIAGA RAMBAC has filed with this Office, a petition for correction of entry in sex from MALE to FEMALE in the certificate of live birth of REAN JOY BANIAGA RAMBAC at Vintar, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are ARIEL RAMBAC and CORAZON BANIAGA.           Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than Nov. 28, 2016. (SGD) MENELEO JOEY J. LEAÑO Municipal Civil Registrar Nov. 14-20, 21-27, 2016*IT _________________________________________ RA Form No. 101.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Nort