The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —Aira Cassandra S. Castro, a scholar of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte's (PGIN) Doctor of Medicine Scholarship Program, topped the recent March 2023 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) with a grade of 89 percent. Castro made history by becoming the first medicine graduate from the Mariano Marcos State University College of Medicine (MMSU-COM) rank first in the board examination. Along with Dr. Castro, Dr. Christian Alvin Arca, Dr. Marianne Shem Caraang, Dr. Neil Justine dela Cruz, and Dr. Mida Dorothy Manayon also passed the PLE and achieved a 100% passing rate, giving the university its seventh straight perfect record in the board exam for medical doctors since it began fielding examinees in 2020. The Doctor of Medicine Scholarship was an initiative of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, which aims to provide Ilokano doctors who will ensure the delivery of healthcare service in the province, particularly in far-flung areas. Aside from m

By Noralyn Dudt A story full of oddities it certainly is. From the world's point of view, twelve men from an odd place with odd personalities could not have been the main actors over 2,000 years ago when another odd man discipled them and sent them around the Roman world to preach and proclaim the Good News. They were revolutionary ideas about loving your enemies,   ideas that were at odds with what   are   sensible to the human mind. What was so blessed about being "poor in spirit" anyway? And what was so blessed about being meek ? And "turning the other cheek?" Truly revolutionary. But eleven of the original   Twelve   plus one other later, whose   name was Paul went around preaching those odd ideas, and the   world was being turned upside down. How each one of these Twelve   and another one named Paul were called to follow this man who grew up in a carpenter's home was another odd thing. This man who then was called "Rabii" or Teacher was w

By Noralyn Dudt A small pocket of the vast Roman Empire in the little town of Nazareth is a place where no one would have ever expected someone to turn the world upside-down. It was an undistinguished,   obscure place. Although Yeshua (Jesus, Joshua) was a Nazarene, he was born in another town where his parents were traveling to the city of David in Bethlehem. There was a decree by Caesar Augustus that all citizens of the Roman world should be registered (census) at the place where their ancestors were born. Mary and Joseph who both descended from the line of David were on this trek when Mary was about to give birth. As there was no room for them at the inn,   they retreated to a stable where the animals were kept for the night. The baby Yeshua came into our world there, and placed on a manger which was a place where the animals ate. He was raised by a mother who "treasured up all these things and pondered them   in her heart" when right after the birth, shepherds from the

Magsisimula na sa Pebrero 24, 2023 ang “Onlayn Dap-áyan” sa mga “Babasahín sa Saliksik at Kulturang Pilipino” ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) tampok ang mga salawikain. Ang proyektong ito ay serye ng mga pagbása at talakayan sa iba’t ibang panitikang-bayan ng bansa kabilang ang salawikain, bugtong, alamat, awiting-bayan, at epiko. Kumukuha ito ng inspirasyon sa dap-áyan ng mga taga-Kordilyera na may kinalaman sa mga ritwal at paraan upang malutas ang mga isyu ng komunidad. Sa bawat sesyon, magbibigay ang KWF ng babasahín at gabay sa pagbása ng mga panitikang-bayan para sa isasagawang talakayan sa onlayn na platform. Bukás na ang pagpapatalâ para sa unang sesyon tampok ang salawikain sa Pebrero 24, 2023. May hiwalay na pagpapatalâ para sa iba pang sesyon: Abril 28, 2023 (bugtong), Hunyo 28, 2023 (alamat), Agosto 31, 2023 (awiting-bayan), at   Oktubre , 2023 (epiko). Libre at bukás ito sa sinumang interesado. Kinakailangan lámang magpatalâ sa link na ito: https://forms.gl

By Noralyn Dudt "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has looked with favor on His lowly servant." Around 2,024 years ago in the   little town of Nazareth, a young maiden received a visit from someone from afar.   An angel of the Lord appeared and   made the announcement that has now become a prayer of adoration by many in the Catholic faith,   "blessed are you the most favored of all women."   Blessed ?   Favored?   Indeed, Mary must have felt blessed and favored. One wonders why she, of all people, and not the magistrate's daughter was chosen. It would be an eye ( or mind?) opener to take a close look at Mary's song of praise, "The Magnificat"   in the book of Luke 1:46-55 and see what kind of a soul this young maiden was. "He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for behold,   henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy

By Liwliwa B. Suguitan Technology has the potential to significantly change how people learn. It may strengthen and deepen connections between teachers and students, help us reimagine how we learn and collaborate, close long-standing equity and accessibility gaps, and modify the learning process to accommodate the needs of all students. Thus, student engagement may be raised, lesson planning can be improved, and tailored learning can be facilitated in the classroom with the wise use of digital learning resources. Furthermore, it assists pupils in developing crucial 21 st century abilities. However, the question is: are all educators equipped with the information, abilities, and skills required for teaching with technology? Teaching online poses challenges for teachers trained primarily to work face to face. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck all over the world teachers were forced to move online to ensure students continue their education. This is not an easy transition and succes

By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —In time for the Laoag City Pamulinawen Festival 2023, the city government here has reopened the operation of the Laoag City Sports Complex, otherwise known as the Laoag City Cockpit Arena, situated at Brgy. 1 this city on Jan. 27, 2023. On the Jan. 4, 2023 regular session, Laoag councilor Atty. Jason Bader Perera sponsored an urgent measure coming from Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon asking for an authority to issue a special permit to Engr. Jofrey B. Felipe for the conduct of cockfighting derby at the LC Sports Complex on Jan. 27 and Feb. 1, 2023. The council gave the requested authority, and on Jan. 26, 2023, Keon and Laoag Vice Mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas led the blessing and the re-opening of the Laoag City Sports Complex (LCSC), a day before the formal opening which was attended by new management headed by Felipe, several members of the city council and business establishment owners that will be operating during the cockfighting