The Ilocos Times

TURN-OVER CEREMONY . Laoag vice mayor Rey Carlos Fariñas and several members of the Laoag council hand the ceremonial key to the DepEd officials headed by External Partnership and International Cooperation Office Dir. Margarita Consolacion C. Ballesteros, City Schools Division Superintendent Joane Corpuz and other local DepEd officials. ( Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The new Rodolfo CG. Farinas Jr. National Science High School will start its operation this coming school year 2024-25 after the inauguration and turn over ceremony held June 19, 2024, graced by DepEd External Partnership and International Cooperation Office Dir. Margarita Consolacion C. Ballesteros. Former Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo C Fariñas, the prime mover for the establishment of the science high school expressed his happiness that it will finally operate this coming school year. “ Maragsakan nak unay appo ta nagbalin daytoy ta dagitoy national science high schools ket i

THE  restored Tobacco Monopoly Monument was originally built in 1882 by Don Jose Moreno Lacalle, the Alcalde Mayor at that time, as a gesture of thanksgiving to King Alfonso XII of Spain for abolishing the Tobacco Monopoly after 100 years of oppressing the people. (Photo by Alwin Formantes.)  

There is the clamor to ban POGO. Let's try to balance the idea starting from its history. How it all started? Where should we stand? Who are responsible in creating POGO? Considering that most employees of this industry are Chinese nationals with no legal papers and to consider that all forms of gambling in China are strictly prohibited. The issue of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)—now renamed as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGL)—is indeed a controversial and complex one. Let's discuss the pros and cons of POGO and try to provide a balanced view on the matter.   History and background POGOs began to proliferate in the Philippines in the early 2010s. These are online gambling operators that cater primarily to Chinese customers but are based in the Philippines. The industry grew rapidly due to a combination of factors including a large pool of English-speaking workers, relatively low labor costs, and supportive government policies. There are also additional c

WITH Christ telling his disciples not to give what is holy to dogs, or throw one’s pearls before swine, (cfr. Mt 7,6) we are somehow reminded that in our worldly affairs, no matter how technical they are or physically straining and dirty, we should never forget that God is always there, and that they are meant to be done or attended to with God and for God always. In other words, we should avoid being swallowed up by the mundanity of these affairs as if God has nothing to do with them. We should avoid being so absorbed by them that we would not have God in our mind and heart. This definitely would require of us a certain discipline that would put God at the center and peak of our human activities. For this, we have to learn how to be recollected amid the hustle and bustle of our daily activities. Yes, we have to learn this skill. It’s actually a fundamental and indispensable skill. Without it, there’s no other way but for us to get confused and lost in our worldly and temporal a

NUEVA  Era Mayor Aldrin Garvida and Vice Mayor Caroline Arzadon-Garvida lead the tree planting activity held at Brgy. Uguis in as part of the second Joseph B. Arzadon (JBA) Day celebration held June 19, 2024 By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government of here has conducted the second Joseph Bala Arzadon day with a theme “Your Legacy Lives On’’ focusing on environmental preservation via tree-planting held at Brgy.   Uguis, this municipality on June 19, 2024. Prior to the tree-planting, the municipal government conducted a whole day celebration with a wreath-laying at the Arzadon Mausoleum followed by the awarding of National Passers of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for barangays; table tennis and literary competition; bloodletting and medical mission; and a thanksgiving mass in the evening. Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida thanked all his constituents for their support in commemorating the third year death anniversary of for

THE  Philippine Councilors League (PCL) headed by PCL National President Handy T. Lao and PCL National Chairman Raul Corro, who were both elected, as ACF International treasurer and president, respectively join the Asian Councils Forum (ACF) signing ceremony held on June 6 in Tokyo, Japan along with representatives from Taiwan Councilors Forum (TCF) and the Japan Councilors Forum (JCF).( Photo courtesy of PCL) By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Laoag City —The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) bounded with the Taiwan Councilors Forum (TCF) and Japan Councilors Forum (JCF) during the Asian Councils Constitution (ACF) signing ceremony held June 8, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. PCL National President and Laoag councilor Handy T. Lao, who was elected as the ACF international treasurer, said the organization aims to have a united voice from the local legislative councils and local legislative council associations in Asia promoting its objective through cooperation. PCL National Chairman

Customers can now open a Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) savings account completely online via smartphones, as the Bank continues to serve the growing preference of customers for digital solutions and promote financial inclusion. LANDBANK has upgraded its Mobile Banking App (MBA) with a new straight-through account opening feature which allows customers to open a digital account instantly from anywhere, at any time, without visiting a LANDBANK Branch. Through the MBA, customers can open a LANDBANK PISO Plus basic deposit account, a regular LANDBANK Visa debit account, and the new GoBayani savings account designed for overseas Filipinos, to help build their savings and start their financial journey. To open a LANDBANK account, interested clients need only their smartphones downloaded with the latest version of the LANDBANK MBA, a secure internet connection, and any valid identification card such as a Philippine Passport, Driver’s License, SSS, UMID, PRC ID, or PhilSys ID.