The Ilocos Times

I will never forget the late Louie Casambre. He was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. Before he died, he was one of my successors at the now defunct National Computer Center (NCC). Louie was Undersecretary of the now also defunct Information and Communications Office (ICTO). I was formerly Undersecretary of NCC. Both NCC and ICTO were the forerunners of what is now the Dept. of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Shortly before he died, I got to talk to Louie at one of the board meetings of the Philippine Information and Communications Technology Organization (PICTO). PICTO is the trade association of the ICT industry, and both of us where board members at that time. During our conversation, I asked Louie what he thought about the problem of slow internet. I was surprised at what he said, and I could never forget what he said. He said that in truth, fast internet is available in the Philippines, except that it is very expensive. Analyzing what he said

What is the difference between living in an urban area and living in a rural area? A certain government agency here in Laoag City which is responsible for farming issues cannot differentiate or identify between a rural area and an urban area? Ignorance of the law or sluggish intelligence excuses no one. Imagine, it is the only government agency in the City of Laoag which cannot differentiate or define the meaning of an urban area and a rural area. Because when it comes to evaluation of a barangay’s performance, it is a given protocol that urban barangays and rural barangays belong to different categories. For instance, in a competition when it comes to planting in an urban vegetable garden, this agency has categorized certain barangays which are urban barangays into rural barangays. Obviously, it should not be. How can this agency categorize an urban barangay into a rural barangay? What is this agency's legal basis? So from the very start such competition among these said bara

“SOME Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?’” (Mt 19,3) This is t he opening passage of the gospel of the Mass on Friday of the 19 th Week in Ordinary Time. It brings out the question of marriage and divorce that now is being hotly discussed in many parts of the country. Some proponents of divorce claim that we seem to be backward since we are practically the only country that does not have a divorce law yet. It’s an argument that does not really need any serious attention. Truth is, we should be very proud that we do not have a divorce law, since divorce is from beginning to end an anomaly. Divorce clearly goes against the very nature of marriage that is validly entered into by a couple. It breaks something that is supposed to be lifelong, regardless of the things that can take place in it. As the couple vowed on their wedding day, they committed themselves to be wedded to each other “for bette

By Lance Patrick C. Enad Last July 22, 2024, the Cebuano-speaking social media blew up with denouncements of how an entitled man dressed as a woman publicly embarrassed a waiter and made the waiter stand for two hours just because the waiter referred to the transvestite, Jude Bacalso, as "Sir." Of course, people were quick to jump into the bandwagon of condemnation—and rightly so. What many don't realize however is that such brazen entitlement is a logical consequence of either tolerating or supporting wokeness. Wokeness is the popular term for Adaptive Marxism. Marxism in its original form simplified reality into economic class struggle: the class struggle between the oppressor, the bourgeoisie and the oppressed, the proletariat. Adaptive Marxism, however, without economic paradigms, shifts the class struggle into whatever it has. For example, third wave feminism (first wave feminism which simply advocated for equality is acceptable) holds that all of reality is a g

It appears that corruption and mismanagement are significant factors contributing to the failure of flood control projects in Metro Manila. The diversion of funds to politicians' pockets, kickbacks, and other forms of corruption have hindered the effective implementation of flood control measures in the region. Corruption not only leads to the misallocation of resources but also compromises the quality and effectiveness of infrastructure projects. When construction projects are not properly implemented due to corruption, the intended benefits, such as flood control, are not realized, and the problems may even worsen over time. To address these issues, it is crucial to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in all phases of project planning, implementation, and monitoring. Creating mechanisms to prevent corruption, such as independent oversight and robust anti-corruption measures, is essential to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively f

IT’S a skill we all need to learn. And given the current conditions of the world where many people are trapped in their earthly and temporal affairs, this skill is urgently needed. Converting the perishable condition of our earthly life into the imperishable quality of our definitive life hopefully in heaven is actually expected, nay, commanded of us by Christ himself.   “Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that which endures unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you,” Christ told the crowd who followed him. (Jn 6,27) Converting the perishable to the imperishable can happen if we see and understand things in a theological way, that is, with faith, hope and charity. We need to realize that our thinking would not work in its most proper way if it is not enlightened and guided by faith, hope and charity. It would be like saying that we can simply be on our own. It’s tantamount to saying that we don’t need God from whom we come and to whom we belong. Or th

Economic growth and economic development are related but distinct concepts in the field of economics. Economic Growth Definition: Economic growth refers to the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. It is typically measured by the increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. Focus: Economic growth focuses on quantitative increases in the output of an economy, often measured by factors such as GDP growth rate, employment levels, and productivity improvements. Indicators: Indicators of economic growth include rising incomes, increased industrial output, higher levels of employment, and growing trade.   Causes: Economic growth can be driven by factors such as increases in capital investment, technological progress, population growth, and improved infrastructure.   Economic Development Definition: Economic development is a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also improvements in the